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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , New York Auto Show , Chrysler, LLC. This week we attended media events put on by Ford and General Motors called "backgrounders" that give select journalists a preview of what will be shown at the upcoming 2009 Detroit Auto Show . We signed non-disclosure agreements and agreed to embargoes, so we can't tell you what we learned or saw. Assuming the embargoes aren't broken, these events give us the ability to produce thorough, thoughtful posts on the previewed vehicles when they finally debut in early January. Chrysler held a backgrounder for journalists this week too, today in fact. Despite being invited by Ford and GM to their backgrounders, our request for an invite to the Chrysler event was repeatedly denied by Rick Deneau, the automaker's Director of Product and Brand PR/Communications. Autoblog, Jalopnik and a number of other blogs were blocked from the event, and the reasons given are varied but...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Etc. The North American International Auto Show is by far the largest auto show in North America, but the small, aging facility that houses the new car party is prompting automakers to ditch the event all-together. In response to news that Suzuki has joined Porsche in bowing out of the 2009 show, the city of Detroit is rushing a $90M plan to increase floor space by 80,000 sq. ft. The move is seen as a stop-gap measure, with other more grand plans still on the way at a later date. With far superior facilities in New York, Chicago, and LA, Detroit may not have long to act. For people in the Detroit area, the Cobo expansion has been a hot topic of conversation, but one that typically doesn't get beyond the talking stage. If area executives continue to try to one-up each other, argue and get nothing done, more automakers are likely to bow out in the future. [Source: Detroit News ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , BMW , Cadillac , Chrysler click above to view more high-res live shots of the Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept One bit of news we passed over on the way out the door of COBO Hall on Tuesday was the winners of this year's EyesOn Design Awards at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. There are four awards given away each year, including Best Concept and Production Car and Best Concept and Production Truck. Cadillac sweeped the car side of things with the CTS-V being honored as Best Production Car and the CTS Coupe Concept named as the Best Concept Car. The BMW X6 , meanwhile, was named Best Production Truck and the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept nabbed the Best Concept Truck award. The EyesOn Design awards are sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Opthamology and judged by a panel of automotive designers including ex-VP of Design for GM Wayne Cherry, Chrysler's Senior VP of Design Trevor Creed, the renowned Henrik Fisker, GM's VP of Global Design Ed...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , SUVs , Green , Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep Click image for a hi-res gallery of Chrysler's concepts We're back from the Chrysler press conference that saw the Detroit Auto Show debuts of the Jeep Renegade , Dodge ZEO , and Chrysler ecoVoyager . As we have mentioned already, each is born out of the automaker's ENVI program, the focus of which is on new, environmentally-friendly electric propulsion. As such, all the concepts share the same 200 kw (268 hp equivalent) electric motor powered by a currently nonexistent lithium-ion battery pack and augmented by a secondary "range-extender" in the Renegade and ecoVoyager. That includes a vaporware fuel-cell in the latter. It's all okay, though, because as Chrysler's Frank Klegon pointed out, these are "pure concepts." He then went on to say that these "pure concepts" would be seen "in future production vehicles...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Trucks/Pickups , Etc. , Chrysler , Dodge click image for a gallery of the Rampede staging area Before this Sunday's " Rampede " at the Detroit Auto Show kicked off, we moseyed over to the staging area and hung out with our friends from the animal kingdom. You've got to love the sight of a longhorn steer... with a monorail in the background. A large crowd lined the fences as the big critters milled around and drew smiles. Of course, an accidental poke from one of those horns would wipe away that smile pretty quickly, so alertness was still called for. It's not that the cattle were aggressive. They were calmer than some domesticated dogs we know. It's just that their heads were well clear of the fencing that lined their route, and as you can see, they're called longhorns for a reason. Fortunately, as you all know by know the show went off without a hitch, and neither Rams nor cattle were harmed in the making of the video we've...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Minivans/MPVs , Dodge click above for more images of the Dodge Caraven R/T Concept var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Dodge_Caravan_R_T_sport_minivan_spotted_at_Detroit_Auto_Show'; Tucked away among its more pedestrian brethren was Dodge's Caravan R/T concept. We have no details on the powertrain or what else may lie beneath its skin, but the appearance changes are rather obvious. Sporting 20" forged Alcoa wheels and 245/45-20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A rubber, the fast family hauler sits just a bit lower to the ground, as well (we suggest telling your significant other that this feature makes it easier for the kids to get in and out of the vehicle). A scooped hood feeds air to whatever powerplant resides underneath, and a dual exhaust out back facilitates the removal of spent combustion gases. Inside, white-faced gages communicate information to the driver, and each occupant gets two-tone leather buckets with bright-red stitching...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Green , Chrysler click above for more high-res images of the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept One of three Pentastar concepts powered by some combination of cutting-edge technology, the Chrysler ecoVoyager continues the automaker's fascination with art-deco by resurrecting the Stout Scarab . Doing away with a conventional powertrain and installing a 45kW fuel cell allows the 268-horsepower electric motor to spin the wheels for 300 miles before refueling. The Li-Ion batteries give the concept a theoretical range of 40 miles before the fuel cell is called upon, and regenerative braking recovers some energy for the batteries, too. The skateboard nature of the chassis and power systems allows for a very roomy cabin and low center of gravity, which aids handling. Weighing in at a modest 2,750 pounds, the ecoVoyager doesn't have a problem performing like the cars we know and love, either. 0-60 is dispatched in 8.8 seconds, and Chrysler's...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chrysler , Dodge click above for more high-res pics of the Dodge Zeo concept Chrysler is out to convince folks of its green cred here in Detroit, so it's offering up the Dodge Zeo to the fuel- and emissions-conscious masses. The 2+2 coupe features 64kWh of electric energy that's sent to the rear wheels via a 268-hp motor. Dodge claims that the 2,650-pound Zeo can amble along for 250 miles before it's due for a recharge, although we'd suspect that turning the massive 23-inch wheels might take a bite out of the Zeo's long-range cruising capabilities. The actual mechanicals are also, most likely, a figment of some product planner's imagination at the moment. The design is typical concept car flare, with wheels pushed to the edges of the body and a steeply raked windshield that carries all the way to the rear of the vehicle, terminating in a tapered hatch that's accentuated by massive fender...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Hybrids/Alternative , SUVs , Green , Chrysler , Jeep Click image for high-res gallery Chrysler is showing three concepts that leverage the automaker's ENVI electric vehicle tech tech today in Detroit. The Chrysler ccoVoyager and Dodge ZEO concepts will be covered in separate posts, but they share their main electric drivetrains with Jeep's open-air concept. At the center of ENVI is a 200 kW (268 hp) electric motor with a 40 mile range that's powered by lithium ion batteries. The Renegade concept uses a pair of these -- one on each axle to create a proper 4X4 -- and adds a low gear mode, locking differentials, and a Bluetec diesel "range-extender" engine that gives it the equivalent of 110 mpg when combined with the electric motors. We see a little of the 1998 Jeepster Concept in the Renegade's front end, but beyond that, the little two-seater goes its own way, putting a modern spin on the Wrangler ethos that incorporates...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Etc. , Audi , Buick , Chrysler , GM , Honda , Mercedes Benz , Volvo Road and Travel Magazine crowned the winners of its 2008 International Car Of The Year at 12th annual NAIAS-eve ceremony last night. Honda's newly-ginormous Accord took the coronation on the car side, while Chrysler's revamped Town and Country used its slick new features to win the truck category. RTM's judges are a veritable who's who of heavy-hitting auto journos, including Ann Job, David E. Davis, Jr., Denise McCluggage and Autoblog's own John McElroy . The pundit firepower lends real credence to the selections, even if you don't agree 100%. Results were sorted by JD Power and Associates, and General Motors had the most vehicles named to the overall list. GM was also presented with the first Earth Angel award, honoring the environmentally-friendly efforts of the automaker. The full list of winners is included in RTM's press release, posted after the jump. ...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Chrysler , Ford , UAW/Unions New contracts for the United Auto Workers union that actually help save money for the Big Three domestic have been wrapped up for some time, but $100/barrel oil and continually despressed housing market are contributing to tough times for U.S. automakers. Those harsh realities don't seem to be getting UAW top dog Ron Gettelfinger down, though, as he likes the future of Ford and Chrysler. Union Ron acknowledges that the next six months will be tough, but once the new contracts begin taking effect, Detroit will have a lot more cash for future vehicle development. Automotive News sites analyst predictions of $1,000 savings per vehicle that could give Ford $2.4 billion per year and Chrysler $2.0 billion per year to fund their respective turnarounds. Gettelfinger sees both domestics putting the money back into vehicle development, which would mean more and better new product. Although Gettlefinger feels Cerberus will invest money...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Sedans/Saloons , Chrysler click above image for more views of the Chrysler evoVoyager Concept var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/design/Chrysler_gives_sneak_peak_of_300_mile_zero_emissions_ecoVoyager_Concept'; Chrysler has released sketches today of three eco-minded concepts it will be unveiling at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January, and the first we'll tell you about is the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept. The ecoVoyager Concept appears to be a series hybrid, much like the Chevy Volt or Ford Airstream Concept , that uses a lithium-ion battery pack for jaunts of 40 miles or less and a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender to reach distances up to 300 miles away. Power is expected to be in the range of 200 kW total, which Chrysler claims is good for reach 60 mph in around eight seconds. The exterior features an extreme cab forward design creating an arch profile with flowing character lines coming from the front and back that intersect...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Sedans/Saloons , Chrysler click above image for more views of the Chrysler evoVoyager Concept var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/design/Chrysler_gives_sneak_peak_of_300_mile_zero_emissions_ecoVoyager_Concept'; Chrysler has released sketches today of three eco-minded concepts it will be unveiling at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January, and the first we'll tell you about is the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept. The ecoVoyager Concept appears to be a series hybrid, much like the Chevy Volt or Ford Airstream Concept , that uses a lithium-ion battery pack for jaunts of 40 miles or less and a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender to reach distances up to 300 miles away. Power is expected to be in the range of 200 kW total, which Chrysler claims is good for reach 60 mph in around eight seconds. The exterior features an extreme cab forward design creating an arch profile with flowing character lines coming from the front and back that intersect...
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