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Report: Porsche making its return to Detroit show with ‘spectacular’ supercar

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche, Luxury

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

It’s been nearly four years since Porsche pulled out of the Detroit Auto Show, but next month the German automaker is coming back to Motor City and will mark its return with an all-new concept.

Porsche spokesperson Hans-Gerd Bode told Bloomberg in a recent interview that the automaker will “have something spectacular to show,” but failed to go into detail.

Early reports indicate the automaker will debut a supercar concept, possibly a new iteration of the 918 Spyder that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show this past March. The concept could be based on a more production-ready version of the 918’s platform and possibly pack a conventional powertrain rather than the hybrid drivetrain fitted to the original concept.

Porsche’s return to Detroit comes amidst the Volkswagen Group’s expanded marketing push in the States, with the sports car maker joining VAG’s other brands, including Audi and Bentley.

Gallery: Porsche 918 Spyder concept

[Sources: Bloomberg, Autocar]

Report: Porsche making its return to Detroit show with ‘spectacular’ supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GMC Sierra HD concept coming to Detroit

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, GMC, Diesel

GMC Sierra HD

2011 GMC Sierra HD – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors’ heavy-duty truck twins – the GMC Sierra HD and Chevrolet Silverado HD – were reworked for 2011 with the addition of an all-new chassis and an upgraded 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine. But while the capable trucks’ guts were given a transplant, the vehicle’s blue-collar exterior and aging interior were left unchanged. With Ford and Ram updating the look and feel of their heavy duty pickups over the past year, we’re thinking GM won’t stand idly by forever, and we may have a peak at the next Sierra sooner than you think.

Our friends over at PickupTrucks.com are reporting that sources within GM have said that we can expect a Sierra HD concept at the North American International Auto Show in January. The super-sized concept will likely show one possible design direction for the haul-happy pickup, giving it new sheetmetal to accompany its already very capable hardware. Will the concept look production-ready, or will it be a pie in the sky rendering on wheels? We’ll have to wait until January to find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 GM HD Trucks

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: GMC Sierra HD concept coming to Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Prius MPV leaked ahead of Detroit debut? [UPDATE]

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Toyota

Toyota Prius MPV

Toyota is planning to reveal its new Prius-based MPV at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and while we’ve seen spy shots and teasers of the fuel-sipping people-mover before, we now have our clearest look yet at the forthcoming hybrid hauler.

Our friends at Autoblog.it have managed to snag what appear to be official shots of the Prius MPV, and based on the test mules we’ve seen out on the road, we’ll bet our bottom dollar that the seven-passenger, three-row vehicle you see here is what will be displayed under the Detroit show lights.

Autoblog.it says that the Prius MPV will be powered by the same 1.8-liter hybrid engine used in the five-door hatch, though output has reportedly been bumped up to 138 horsepower. Efficiency will obviously be the MPV’s biggest factor, and we’re that Toyota has tweaked the standard Prius’ powertrain to account for the added heft of the MPV. As always, stay tuned for more information, and head over to Autoblog.it for an additional image of the bulked-up Prius.

UPDATE: As convincing as this image looks, the keen-eyed folks at Carscoop have pointed out that this is not, in fact, the upcoming Prius MPV, and is actually a rendering crafted by Japan’s Best Car magazine. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that Toyota will be debuting the Prius people-mover at the Detroit show in January, and we’ll have the full details after the turn of the new year.

[Source: Autoblog.it (translated)]

Toyota Prius MPV leaked ahead of Detroit debut? [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Prius MPV to debut at Detroit Auto Show [w/video]

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Videos, Toyota

Toyota Prius video

Toyota teases the new Prius MPV – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Recently, Toyota teased its second addition to the Prius family during its 10th anniversary party for the automaker’s infamous hybrid. Now, Toyota has tweeted that the new vehicle, which obviously takes the shape of a Mazda5-sized MPV, will make its official debut at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January.

Rumors have suggested that the Prius MPV will offer seating for seven via three rows of perches, though there’s no word on whether or not the larger Prius variant will use sliding doors or stick to a more Kia Rondo-like shape. Expect the Prius’ powertrain to be slightly revised for MPV duty, as well, probably with a few more lithium-ion batteries on hand to keep things extremely economical. We’ll know more come January, but for now, click past the jump to see a video of the Prius MPV’s teaser billboard coming to life.

[Source: Twitter, YouTube]

Continue reading Toyota Prius MPV to debut at Detroit Auto Show [w/video]

Toyota Prius MPV to debut at Detroit Auto Show [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota to replace Yaris in U.S., concept coming to Detroit?

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Toyota

2010 Toyota Yaris – Click above for high-res image gallery

B-segment cars have been getting a whole lot of attention lately, what with super-good offerings like the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Honda Fit setting the bar high for the class. Toyota has its friendly little Yaris, but that model hasn’t seen any sort of real update since its debut in late 2006, but large changes are in the works.

Toyota’s North American operations have reportedly been pushing for the Yaris to grow in size, and we should get a conceptual preview of what to expect at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Toyota is also working on a hybrid powertrain for the Yaris in Europe, though reports state that this engine isn’t slated for the United States. Odd, especially since Toyota has always talked about expanding its Prius nameplate to include a range of hybrid vehicles.

For now, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more rumors, and we’ll wait to see what Toyota has in store for a Detroit Show debut next January.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Yaris 5 Door

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Toyota to replace Yaris in U.S., concept coming to Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: 72-year-old building his own Ariel Atom clone

Filed under: Performance, Technology, Specialty, Design/Style

Bert Campbell’s Atom chassis – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ariel Atom is an amazing piece of automotive minimalism and could be what Lotus founder Colin Chapman would build were he still with us today. However, not everyone can swing the price tag for an Atom. In the case of 72-year-old Bert Campbell of Southgate, MI, his artificial hip also posed an ingress/egress problem. Bert is one of the participants at the first Detroit Maker Faire, and because of his mobility problem, he decided to the take the basic Atom chassis design and modify the sides to make them lower. To compensate for the loss of structure, he added a roll-cage on top.

Campbell bought the steel tubing at swap meet for about $20 and got the front control arms from another hobbyist in return for some help fixing a lathe. Campbell built his own tubing bender and roller to shape the steel and has done all the fabrication in his girlfriend’s garage. Although he has several engines available, Campbell plans to install an 1100cc Yamaha motorcycle engine in the back with the original five-speed gearbox. Bert promises to keep us up to date as the project progresses, so stay tuned for more.

Gallery: Bert Campbell’s home built Atom

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: 72-year-old building his own Ariel Atom clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Amick A2 wind-assisted electric vehicle

Filed under: Etc., Electric

Amick A2

Amick A2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the makers we encountered setting up for the Maker Faire Detroit on Friday afternoon was Douglas Amick. Amick was unloading the A2, a three-wheeled, battery-powered, wind-assisted tandem-two-seater. The A2 was originally built by Amick’s late father, James, who devised the aerodynamic arch on the rear of the vehicle. That element is claimed to help propel the vehicle forward in crosswinds.

Apparently, airflow coming in at an angle to the vehicle will swirl around as it passes through the arch, actually applying force to the A2’s rear, giving it some boost. We’ll have to check with some contacts with aerodynamic expertise on the veracity of this claim. Regardless, the Amick A2 is kind of cool-looking. Apparently, it originally had aluminum air batteries installed but they’re no longer functional.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit: Amick A2

[Source: AmickGlobal.com]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Amick A2 wind-assisted electric vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video]

Power Racing Series – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the highlights of this weekend’s Detroit Maker Faire was the Michigan premiere of a new grassroots racing event: the Power Racing Series. The brainchild of Jim Burke, the Power Racing Series is like LeMons in that the machines have budgets limited to just $500 not including safety equipment. Unlike LeMons, the Power Racing Series vehicles are based on Fisher-Price Power Wheels or Little Tykes toys that have been modded to support the mass of adult drivers and larger 12-volt lead-acid car batteries.

This weekend’s competition features three individual events including a drag race, a 15-lap road race and a one-hour enduro on Sunday afternoon. The drag race was won by Royce Pipkins, president of the Milwaukee Maker Space, in his Grave Digger. When the 15-lap event began on Saturday afternoon, the #3 car built by the crew at the I3 Detroit hacker space clearly had more speed than any other vehicle. Unfortunately, about halfway through the race, the car ground to a halt. A key connecting the rear wheel to the axle had sheared the soft metal of the axle. The crew repeatedly tried pounding in new keys, but the car would only run another lap or two before running into trouble. Ultimately Pipkins had the durability and speed to finish 15 green-flag laps before anyone else. Look for the Power Racing Series at a parking lot near you soon.

Update: On Sunday afternoon, the Power Racers went back to the track for the one hour enduro and the extra distance took its toll on the field. Royce Pipkins and his Grave Digger pulled into the pits after 35 minutes with two burned out motors.The i3 Detroit also came at about 40 minutes and had to do some rewiring to bypass a failed motor controller. Meanwhile the OmniCorp Detroit team motored on to complete the most laps. The I3 Detroit machine ran third on the track but accumulated enough Moxie Points from the crowd to finish first overall and capture the 2010 Power Racing Series championship. Check out some video highlights after the jump.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series

Continue reading Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog quadricycle

Filed under: Etc., Humor

Big Dog

Big Dog quadri-cycle – Click above for high-res image gallery

Friday afternoon, we had the opportunity to walk around the site of the first-ever Maker Faire Detroit while exhibitors were getting set up. Among the wheeled contraptions we encountered was the contraption you see above: the Big Dog. This human-powered conveyance was designed and built by Tom Wilson of Royal Oak, Michigan in his basement and garage. Big Dog is actually the third such vehicle Wilson has constructed, with his original inspiration coming from a similar device he saw at the Burning Man festival several years ago.

Looking closely at the 600-pound machine (which stands a towering eight feet, six inches tall), it’s clear that Wilson put serious thought and craftsmanship into it. Note the inboard-mounted rear disc brakes and the elaborate gear-change and chain mechanism. The centrally-mounted propane tanks are there to support the flame effects from the tower. We’ll add photos of that if we catch it being demonstrated this weekend.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog

[Source: ThirstyBeachLandscaping]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog quadricycle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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