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2010 North American International Auto Show The global auto show scene continues to unfold, and we're hopping planes left and right-from Frankfurt to L.A.-to see all this new car year has to offer. Now, in the States, it's time for the 2010 North American International Auto Show. So let the concepts and contenders ready their wheels for action, because Detroit is the place to be and be seen!
In keeping with the "One Ford" theme, our next Focus will share most components with similar models sold around the world. Both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan will offer more advanced telematics including wireless Internet browsing. When Focus goes on sale here a year from now, its direct-injected 2.0-liter will promise near 40 mile-per-gallon economy. Later, an Ecoboost turbo-four and an all electric Focus will join the lineup. Already graced with a freshened interior and exterior, the Ford Mustang gains new engines for the 2011. Indeed, a 5.0-liter V8 is now back under the hood. The variable timing, all-aluminum V is rated at 412 horsepower. Standard power is also new, a 3.7-liter V6 with 305 horsepower.
Chevrolet will challenge the Ford Focus with its next generation Aveo. This five-door Aveo RS Concept is larger than the current car, with a youthful, Euro-box shape. A four-door sedan will also be offered, both with frugal 1.4-liter power. GMC is retooling its image for younger buyers, and this Granite concept could be a key player. Dubbed an "Urban Utility Vehicle," the edgy Granite crams a lot into a little space through its pillarless French-doors. If built, the Granite will likely share components with the new Chevrolet Cruze compact. For its more traditional buyers, GMC adds Denali-grade luxury and 20-inch wheels to its popular Acadia crossover utility.
One of the worst kept secrets of the auto show was the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. Menacing sheetmetal outside, and Recaro seats inside, immediately telegraph its velocity intensions. The CTS-V Coupe is powered by the same Corvette-based, 556-horsepower, supercharged V8 as the CTS-V Sedan. This all-wheel drive two-door has the stuff to make it a winner before it turns its big wheels.
The Chrysler Group took an ultra-low key approach to the Detroit show, without a formal press conference. Still, the Fiat backed automaker drew crowds with the promise that its cute-as-a-button 500 minicar will eventually be touring our city streets. Both high performance Abarth and BEV all-electric models were on display. But, the larger advantages of a Chrysler-Fiat marriage, at least in the short term, may look more like this Design Study. What you have here is a Lancia Delta with a Chrysler grille. Fiat may also be saying that it wants to introduce Americans to the kind of premium five-door saloons so popular abroad. The interior is the best part, with a step-up in style and taste from anything Chrysler now offers. The first order of business of the 2010 North American International Auto Show involved three trucks, three cars, and 49 independent journalists, as they made their picks for this year's best. And, it was a clean sweep for Ford. They won both the 2010 North American Truck Of The Year award for the Ford Transit Connect van, and the 2010 North American Car Of The Year award for the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Only three times in the award's 17-year history has one manufacturer snagged both trophies. Clearly, Ford is on a roll. As a sign of the times, the Detroit show rolled out a fleet of high voltage cars in a unique setting called Electric Avenue, with most said to be available soon. Eco-conscious buyers will be able to buy this five-passenger Nissan Leaf this year.
Korean manufacturer CT&T displayed a wide range of low speed electric cars, including this e-Zone two-seat city EV. They also showed a much faster C-Square electric sports car and claim production will start in America this year. There is still debate, however, about the claims of Chinese battery maker BYD, which stands for "Build Your Dreams," that they will sell this plug-in e6 five-passenger crossover in the U.S. by year's end. But, with billionaire Warren Buffet behind them, it could happen. But, it's just as likely that the first Chinese owned electric car design to make it here will wear a Volvo badge. With Ford's sale of Volvo to China's Geely Automotive a done deal, the future of this C30 BEV looks even brighter.
Toyota is so well-known for its Prius Hybrid that there will soon be an entire Prius family. We think this FT-CH concept foretells the first new offspring. CH stands for "Compact Hybrid," so this hatchback's agile mission is clear. Hyundai also says they will soon field a wide range of hybrids. While a hybrid Sonata sedan is due this year, this Blue-Will Concept looks a bit further out. Shown early in Seoul, the plug-in Blue-Will can run about 40 miles on electric power before a 1.6-liter gas engine chimes in.
Audi also played a new electric car card with a fresh e-Tron concept. While the first e-Tron was similar in size to the R8, this "baby" electric is closer to the TT. Just as stunning, it uses two motors-one at each rear wheel-that can operate at different speeds to help steer in corners. Modern electric car pioneer Tesla arrived in Detroit with the latest vision of its new Model S. This seven-passenger crossover is less than two years away. No carmaker embraces both technology and performance like BMW. Their stand covered a gamut of options. This 1-Series plug-in Concept ActiveE electric will soon join the Mini E in limited production to test consumer acceptance. BMW used Detroit for the world premiere of a more efficient 7-Series flagship sedan. The 740i, and long-wheelbase 740Li, will be available with the twin turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 rated at 315 horsepower. Expect highway fuel economy to approach 25 miles per gallon.
While electrics and specialty models took center stage, a few more conventional newcomers also made headlines. This Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is a mostly conventional drop top, staying with a traditional 7-layer fabric top rather than the steel tops current in vogue. Unconventional is Aircap, a deployable spoiler on the windshield header that helps keep wind buffeting in check. This automotive sculpture is intended to give us a hint at the next CLS. It's clear the four-door coupe will continue as high automotive art. Virtually every car to ever wear the Bentley "Flying B" has also been considered movable art. And at $285,000 to start, this Bentley Mulsanne touring car certainly qualifies. Replacing the Arnage, the Mulsanne moves swiftly with a twin-turbo 585-horsepower V8. And, with that, we bring to a stop our high power tour of the 2010 North American International Auto Show.
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The winter white outside Detroit's Cobo Hall stood in contrast to the flashy intros inside for over 40 new production and concept cars. And it was Ford that put the first exclamation mark on the 2010 North American International Auto Show, with a high voltage reveal of its all-new Focus compact lineup.
Over at Lincoln, the 2011 MKX five-seat crossover makes a mid-cycle splash with sleeker sheetmetal, the brand's latest "split-plow" grille, and a far more upscale interior, also with optional voice activated Internet. New, too, is the Mustang 3.7-liter V6 with 305 horsepower.
Buick signaled it's back in the performance game with this Regal GS concept. It revives the Grand Sport name, but with a new green tint. No V6 or V8, but a 255-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four, and a six-speed manual for a sub-six second 0 to 60 time. With Pontiac gone, GM performance fans need this car.
Cadillac also gave a clear view of its next flagship with this XTS Platinum concept. With the production car to replace both the STS and DTS, the new front and all-wheel drive XTS sits on a lengthened Epsilon platform. In this concept, the corporate 3.6-liter V6 adds the full plug-in hybrid treatment. Inside is a beautiful evolution of Cadillac interiors, with ultra-smooth surfaces and true handcrafted-look materials.
You may not yet know Tango, but this Spokane-based electric minicar hopes to become the next big thing in green commuting. Its narrow, tandem two-seat cockpit allows the Tango to go just about anywhere a motorcycle can, including down the center line of a freeway.
Even automakers not positioned along Electric Avenue paid homage to an electric driving future. Honda's CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe will, as the name implies, feature a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain when it arrives here this summer. Honda refers to its two-seat sports coupe as "a hybrid that is fun to drive." The interior, with its standard six-speed manual and 3-D, blue-hue gauge cluster certainly looks like fun.
Volkswagen uses a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine in its NCC Hybrid Concept. NCC translates to "New Compact Coupe," but in reality it's a peek at the next Jetta sedan. The four-seat NCC Concept is a mild hybrid with automatic stop/start.
An even higher strung 3.0 is found under the long hood of this BMW Z4 sDrive35is roadster. With 335 horsepower, this virtually an M-edition Z4, is only fitted with a seven-speed double-clutch paddle shift automatic. Expect a 0 to 60 well under five seconds.
Next door at Mini, the focus is not on speed, but rather on sand. This is the Mini Beachcomber concept. Despite its dune buggy body, it's actually a preview of Mini's Countryman crossover utility that arrives later this year.