January 16, 2011
A view into the future
Do you want to know what the world's auto industry will look like in five years? Go to the 2011 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit.Small vehicles packed with style, innovation sparkle at auto show
Cobo Center is littered with little gems this week. Innovative and appealing small cars and SUVs hailing from suburban Detroit to Europe and Asia are debuting at the 2011 North American International Auto Show.Technology companies vie to bring Web to cars
As drivers grow unwilling to unplug from the connected world during their jaunts across town, technology firms are racing to bring the Web into the car. Others are offering innovations to keep us safe while we use those new services while barreling down the highway at breakneck speeds.Shoppers at auto show look for cars with the right fuel and fit
Lots of people stood in line Saturday for a chance to ride in some of the new alternative fuel cars at the North American International Auto Show, but for some, it was more than just curiosity.Earth-friendly exhibits in basement
The basement of Cobo Center at the auto show will be transformed into the MEDC Town Square and Smarter Living area to allow showgoers to drive electric and hybrid vehicles and get some nonautomotive energy tips.Ford Vertrek
Forget the Vertrek's name, but remember its looks and features: They're very close to the production vehicle that will replace Ford's Escape and Kuga SUVs in North America and Europe. Look for the new Escape to hit the road in about a year.2012 Ford Focus and Focus ST
On sale early this year: The sleek and technically advanced Focus will bring an unprecedented range of features to mainstream compact cars when it goes on sale later this year.2012 Chevrolet Sonic
On sale this fall: Not to be confused with a roller-skating carhop or Chevy's last subcompact, the Korean-built Aveo, the Sonic will roll out of GM's Orion Township assembly plant north of Detroit. It's the only subcompact car built in the U.S. and will share the plant with Buick's Verano compact.2011 Chrysler 300
On sale in the first quarter of 2011: The replacement for the most acclaimed American car of the decade, the 2011 Chrysler 300 hits the road with crisp styling, advanced features and a more luxurious interior.2012 Audi A6 has sporty new look
On sale this summer: Audi's all-new A6 sport sedan features a sporty new look derived from the company's A4 and A8 models. Audi will initially offer three A6 models: a front-wheel drive with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission; a 3.0-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic, and a gasoline-electric hybrid.2012 Honda Civic Si
Expect the production version of the new Honda Civic to look a lot like this concept car when it goes on sale this spring. Honda will replace the Civic sedan and coupe, but only a coupe concept is on display at the show.2012 Toyota Prius family
Minivan on sale in mid-2011: The bigger, roomier Prius V hatchback will join the existing Prius hatchback -- should we call the original the Prius Classic? Prius Prime? This is going to get confusing -- this summer.Fiat 500
On sale this month: The Fiat brand returns to the U.S. with a nifty little retro car designed for customization from a variety of colors and interiors. The 500 made Fiat cool among young Europeans, who call it the Cinquecento ("Ching-kwa, chen-toe"), Italian for "five hundred."2012 Volkswagen Passat
On sale in September: Bigger, less expensive and tailored to American tastes, VW's new Passat aims to take on mainstream family sedans like the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord.2012 Hyundai Veloster
On sale in mid-2011: The eagerly awaited Veloster coupe gives the automaker a budget-priced sporty coupe in the mold of the Tiburon, which taught a generation of young enthusiasts to love Hyundai.January 15, 2011
Vital new vehicles to watch
Detroit's automakers are back with a vengeance, and other global giants this week unveiled vital new vehicles and strategies at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit's Cobo Center. Here are a few vehicles you must see:January 13, 2011
Auto show gives a look at how automakers are jockeying for global success
Mark Phelan: Do you want to know what the world's auto industry will look like in five years? Go to the 2011 Detroit auto show at Cobo Center.Cadillac CTS-V
The racing CTS-V coupe returns Cadillac to the Sports Car Club of America's World Challenge GT Class. Cadillac won SCCA manufacturer's and driver's championships with the CTS-V sedan a few years ago. Racing specialist Pratt & Miller, the New Hudson, Mich., company that fields C6R Chevrolet Corvettes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other races, will run the CTS-V race coupes.2011 Jeep Compass
On sale early 2011 Jeep's Compass compact SUV gets a new front end to make it look more like the brand's red-hot Grand Cherokee. A new hood, grille, front fenders and headlights all reinforce the littlest Jeep's resemblance to its big brother.2012 Ford Focus and Focus ST
On sale early this year The sleek and technically advanced Focus will bring an unprecedented range of features to mainstream compact cars when it goes on sale later this year.2011 Chrysler 300
On sale in the first quarter of 2011 The replacement for the most acclaimed American car of the decade, the 2011 Chrysler 300 hits the road with crisp styling, advanced features and a more luxurious interior.2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550
On sale this summer The brawny CLS 550 shows how Mercedes-Benz's whole model line will be influenced by the company's SLS AMG supercar. The new CLS's bold grille, long hood, sculpted fenders and compact greenhouse all recall the $183,000 SLS AMG.2012 Ford Focus electric
On sale in late 2011 Ford says its electric Focus will cover up to 100 miles on a full charge -- and recharge in about half the time of the Nissan Leaf.2012 Buick Verano
On sale this fall Buick's third new sedan in two years, the nicely equipped Verano compact, is intended to expand the brand's appeal downward to compete with little premium cars like the Audi A3.2012 Audi A6 and A6 hybrid
On sale this summer Audi's all-new A6 sport sedan features a sporty new look derived from the company's A4 and A8 models. Audi will initially offer three A6 models: a front-wheel drive with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission; a 3.0-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic, and a gasoline-electric hybrid.2012 Audi A7
On sale this spring The elegant Audi A7 is the latest in the new class of luxury cars that European automakers like to call "four-door coupes." They're not coupes, of course. They have four doors.Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-cell and B-class F-cell
On sale: SLS 2013; a few preferred customers get to lease F-cells this year. So you think 2010's electric cars, the $32,780 Nissan Leaf and $40,280 Chevrolet Volt, are pricey? Check out Mercedes-Benz's 526-horsepower gull-wing SLS E-cell, below, a concept car that electrifies the brand's $183,000 SLS AMG supercar.Hyundai Curb
Hyundai's sporty Curb concept suggests the looks and features the automaker might use in a compact crossover SUV aimed at young customers. The Curb shares its 103.9-inch wheelbase with the Hyundai Tucson. The 164.2-inch-long concept is 9.1 inches shorter than the Tucson.2012 Hyundai Veloster
On sale in mid-2011 The eagerly awaited Veloster coupe gives the automaker a budget-priced sporty coupe in the mold of the Tiburon, which taught a generation of young enthusiasts to love Hyundai.2012 Land Rover Evoque
On sale late this year The slick Evoque is the first in a new generation of fuel-efficient SUVs coming from Land Rover. The Evoque is based on the LRX concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show a couple of years ago.GMC Sierra All Terrain HD
GMC swears this behemoth is just for show, but everybody from 3-year-old boys to 60-something construction foremen loves big trucks, and the Sierra All Terrain HD looks like an eminently feasible response to Ford's profitable F-250 and 350 Super Duty pickups. The Sierra All Terrain HD is shorter, wider and taller than the heavy-duty pickups GMC sells today.2012 BMW 650i convertible
On sale this spring The long, low lines of the new 650i convertible reveal BMW's new look, a slinky evolution of the brand's controversial previous styling theme. The long nose, narrow grille and scalloped flanks emphasize the new 6-series' lean profile. The 650i features a power soft-top that opens in just 22 seconds at speeds up to 25 m.p.h.2012 Mini Cooper Countryman
On sale this month The Countryman SUV aims to stretch Mini's brand into new territory. It combines the Mini's signature look with a bigger body, more ground clearance and an optional all-wheel drive system. The Countryman measures 161.3 inches long. It's 5.8 inches longer than a Mini Cooper coupe, but a full 18 inches less than the Honda CR-V.2012 Fiat 500
On sale this month The Fiat brand returns to the U.S. with a nifty little retro car designed for customization from a variety of colors and interiors. The 500 made Fiat cool among young Europeans, who call it the Cinquecento ("Ching-kwa, chen-toe"), Italian for "five hundred."Ford Vertrek
Forget the Vertrek's name, but remember its looks and features: They're very close to the production vehicle that will replace Ford's Escape and Kuga SUVs in North America and Europe. Look for the new Escape to hit the road in about a year.2011 Lexus CT 200h
On sale in March Lexus hopes the sleek 134-horsepower CT 200h will appeal to younger buyers looking for a sporty hybrid. The hybrid will offer an EV mode for all-electric driving for up to one mile at speeds up to 28 m.p.h.2012 Toyota Prius family
minivan On sale in mid-2011 The bigger, roomier Prius V hatchback, above, will join the existing Prius hatchback -- should we call the original the Prius Classic? Prius Prime? This is going to get confusing -- this summer.Mini Paceman
The Paceman indicates Mini's plans for a sportier two-door version of its new Countryman SUV. The Paceman's big headlights wrap around into the front fenders, while its sloping roof and rising shoulder line give the car an eager stance. At about 161.8 inches long and 60.7 inches high, the Paceman is the same length and 0.8 inches shorter than the Countryman.2012 Ford C-Max
On sale in 2012 About the size of the 1984 Plymouth Voyager that gave birth to the minivan craze, Ford's new C-Max minivan aims to offer young parents a well-equipped, fuel-efficient family hauler for around $25,000.2012 Volkswagen Passat
On sale in September Bigger, less expensive and tailored to American tastes, VW's new Passat aims to take on mainstream family sedans like the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord.2012 Chevrolet Camaro convertible
On sale in February Winter's dark days will grow a little brighter when the Camaro convertible arrives as a harbinger of sunny times to come.2012 Chevrolet Sonic
On sale this fall Not to be confused with a roller-skating carhop or Chevy's last subcompact, the Korean-built Aveo, the Sonic will roll out of GM's Orion Township assembly plant north of Detroit. It's the only subcompact car built in the U.S. and will share the plant with Buick's Verano compact.2012 Honda Civic Si
Expect the production version of the new Honda Civic to look a lot like this concept car when it goes on sale this spring. Honda will replace the Civic sedan and coupe, but only a coupe concept is on display at the show.2012 BMW 1-series M coupe
On sale this spring BMW's nifty little 1-series adds a high-performance M model and gets a facelift this year.Kia KV7
The boxy and accommodating KV7 concept could be the vehicle for everybody who mourned when Honda killed the goofy but practical Element. A favorite with bicyclists, dog owners, swimmers and others, the Element created the U.S. market for boxes on wheels.2012 Saab 9-4X
On sale in May Saab's first crossover has arrived, and you can hear the champagne corks popping in faculty offices at liberal arts colleges across the snowbel
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