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Detroit 2009


REPORT: GM will build Cadillac Converj

After much hemming and hawing, General Motors will reportedly build a version of the Cadillac Converj, the gorgeous but awkwardly named extended-range coupe concept first shown at last year's Detroit Auto Show. According to The Detroit News, the Converj will probably take a few years to reach dealer showrooms, as GM will first direct its efforts on launching the Chevrolet Volt, the more affordable sedan with which it is likely to share much of its Voltec drivetrain architecture. From where we sit, the Converj seems like a natural move ... Read more →

At Witz' End: Detroit Auto Show: Reality Check - Part II Gary Witzenburg

In my first column reality checking the Detroit Auto Show, some of you questioned my assertion that even Toyota's relatively high-volume hybrids are probably not profitable. Of course, Toyota has ...

At Witz' End: Detroit Auto Show: Reality Check - Part I Gary Witzenburg

This year's Detroit North American International Auto Show (aka NAIAS) was easily the greenest ever, greener even than the evergreen Los Angeles show two months earlier. Several automakers (most ...

Detroit 2009: Fuel cells, a "promising solution," come to Cobo Hall Sebastian Blanco

Even though the SAE World Congress last year featured a seminar titled, "The Problems of Fuel Cell Commercialization," the SAE is putting a positive spin on fuel cells for the public at this ...

Detroit 2009: AutoblogGreen readers pick this year's best car Sebastian Blanco

There are hundreds of vehicles on display at the Detroit Auto Show this year. Most of them were vehicles from past years, things we've all seen plenty of times. During our coverage of the new ...

VIDEO: Henrik Fisker talks about the Karma 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Following the unveiling of the production version of the Fisker Karma and the Karma Sunset concept, Henrik Fisker sat down to talk about the car company he has launched. We now have confirmation of some of the technical details such as the battery supplier which is Advanced Lithium Power. ...

Detroit 2009: Johnson Controls shows off re3 concept 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Johnson Controls is a name familiar to many in the automotive world as a Tier 1 supplier of parts - usually interior bits like seats and electronic gadgetry - to automakers all over the world. In an effort to show off some of the company's latest bits and pieces, a complete concept car called ...

ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

As Ford was getting ready to make its big announcement this week in Detroit that it would build and sell a battery electric car beginning in 2011, I got a call asking if I'd like to come down and drive one of the development "mules." Being loathe to reject such opportunities, we immediately ...

Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Cadillac Converj is currently winning the AutoblogGreen reader poll of the best car from the Detroit Auto Show (but only by two votes, the new Honda Insight is right behind). Seems like you all share tastes with the judges for this year's Eyes on Design Awards, which picked the Converj as ...

Detroit 2009: the ugliest Tesla Roadster you've ever seen 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

There is a Tesla Roadster in the Tesla Motor booth at the Detroit Auto Show this year, but you've all seen that car a gazillion times by now. And, since it'll be awful hard to beat those gorgeous pics of the orange model, we decided to skip the shiny red model on display here. Instead, our green ...

Detroit 2009: Top ten green cars of the show 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

After three days of running around Cobo Hall snapping photos, asking questions and banging out posts, it's time for a review of what we thought were the top green cars of the show. The financial meltdown of the last few months meant that a number of automakers took a pass on this year's show. For ...

Detroit 2009: Michigan EcoXperience turns Cobo Hall into surrealsville [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

There is a special smell coming up from the basement of Cobo Hall. We're not sure which combination of chemicals and fakery makes up the distinctive odor, but we know that it's the fault of the "Michigan EcoXperience," aka the forest in the basement. To spare you the wrinkled nose hairs - and ...

Detroit 2009: Tesla CEO drops a few more hints on the Model S 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

During his keynote speech to the Society of Automotive Analysts Outlook conference in Detroit this morning, Tesla CEO Elon Musk also dropped a few hints about the Model S. Most of the work on the Model S is on hold until Tesla gets its house in better financial shape, but some continues. During the ...

Detroit 2009: BYD's plug-in hybrids, the F3DM and F6DM 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Apparently, "unveiled" was the wrong word. BYD's F3DM plug-in hybrid has been on sale in China for a few weeks and here in Detroit it was just sitting quietly on the stand on the main floor. No press conference, no attractive ladies standing around; just the car. In this case, a car might be ...

Detroit 2009: All Fords to eventually get auto start stop 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Automatic start-stop systems are becoming increasingly common in Europe where many non-hybrid cars are equipped with the relatively inexpensive systems that shut down the engine to prevent idling. However, here in the US, only hybrids have that capability. At an event with some Ford executives ...

Detroit 2009: Concept C, the smallest Lincoln ever 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Prior to the holidays, Ford invited members of the media to Dearborn to see many of the products that would be debuting at the Detroit Auto Show this week including the new Taurus, GT500 and Lincoln MKT. However, they kept a few things back to surprise us at the Show. Among those were the Focus ...

Detroit 2009: What's the best of the show? 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The reveals are done, a lot of journalists and car reps are headed home, and you've (hopefully) had time to digest the cars and information we've been introduced to. This means, naturally, that it's time to try and figure out which cars won and which ones were just too lame/crazy/unrealistic for ...

Detroit 2009: Toyota FT-EV on the stand 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

We were introduced to the FT-EV, Toyota's surprise battery-powered Detroit Auto Show vehicle, the other day - but only via official press photos. We've now had a chance to check out the shiny decorations on the FT-EV here in Cobo Hall and can bring you some pics of the electric city car. This ...

Detroit 2009: Audi introduces 39 mpg Sportback concept [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Audi took the wraps off a new concept in Detroit that presages the upcoming A7 coupe/sedan that will be joining the lineup in the next year or so. The Sportback concept is a low slung four door in the manner of cars like the Mercedes CLS and is sized similarly to the existing A6 sedan. Besides ...

Detroit 2009: next-gen 2010 Toyota Prius will get 50 mpg 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The 2010 Prius debuted today in Detroit and, well, it's a new Prius. But it's also a little bit more in a lot of little ways. First, if all you care about is mileage, the number you need to know is a combined rating of 50 mpg, based on Toyota's own internal testing. That bump in MPGs (up from ...

Detroit 2009: One last 2010 Prius teaser 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Toyota press conference to unveil the brand new third-generation Prius will start in about half an hour. So, while we still can, let's build up the anticipation a bit with one last teaser image. I know you've been enjoying all the random switches and features we've been teased with thus far, so ...

Detroit 2009: A3 TDI coming to US Audi dealers late this year 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

With the Q7 TDI showing up at US Audi dealerships in the next few weeks, Audi has revealed the next step in its North American diesel onslaught. The A3 TDI has been rumored to come to America since last fall's Audi Mileage Marathon, and now we know this is indeed happening. The A3 is based on ...

Detroit 2009: smart ed comes to America 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Too busy to read this evening? Not a problem with this particular post. Any information on the specifications of the smart ed that we found earlier today on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show is - beneath the new white and green decorations - exactly the same as the Euro-spec smart ed. Even ...

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster live 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Volkswagen's Concept BlueSport should go a long way towards making the term "diesel performance" a household name. While it might seem to be an oxymoron to some, seeing it at the Detroit Auto Show, we can tell you that if it reaches production, everyone will be a believer. While officially ...

Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Cadillac just took the wraps off a new concept based on the Chevy Volt's "Voltec" drivetrain (that's a new moniker, by the way). The angular coupe is called the Converj and it is drop-dead gorgeous. With styling that is instantly recognizable as Cadillac, Bob Lutz told us at the press conference ...

Detroit 2009: Chrysler pulls a 200C EV surprise; new PHEV concept has 40-mile range 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

After we were spoiled the Dodge Circuit last night, it wasn't exactly a surprise to see it on the Chrysler display stand this afternoon (still, we'll have a brief write-up, pics and a video for you in a little bit). What was a surprise was this new 200C EV Concept that drove up on stage. The ...

Detroit 2009: Ford ready to electrify the masses with EV car in 2012 [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ford is betting that efficiency will be paramount in the long term. The new Fusion Hybrid? That's the tip of the iceberg. Today in Cobo Arena, the Ford execu-quartet of product chief Derrick Kuzak, CEO Alan Mulally, President of the Americas Mark Fields, and Bill Ford presented the green roadmap ...

Detroit 2008: new Mercedes-Benz E-Class uses up to 23 percent less fuel 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

"Safe, comfortable, efficient." That's the tag-line for the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class that is making a preview appearance here in Detroit before being officially unveiled in Geneva in March. While we're happy to send you over to Autoblog for the details on minor details like the improved ...

Detroit 2009: VW BlueSport, the 57 mpg roadster 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Some readers complain about the continued presence of diesel on these pages, but when it looks this good, we feel good about repeating diesel's inherent MPG advantage over gasoline? VW enjoys doing the same, and they didn't miss a beat in unveiling the new Concept BlueSport. The car is powered ...

Detroit 2009: Crosshairs on a Europa make a Dodge Circuit EV 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

As suspected from some recent spy photos Chrysler's ENVI group has continued to work on the car that first appeared last fall as the DodgeEV. The car that was nothing more than a Lotus Europa with an electric powertrain and Dodge badges now at least looks kind of like it belongs in a Dodge ...

Detroit 2009: Mercedes Benz unveils the concept BlueZero 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

At an off-site reception held tonight ahead of tomorrow's opening of the Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed off its new Concept BlueZero. The car is both an example of clean technology and a preview of the styling for the next generation Mercedes B-Class. Like the current A and B class ...

Detroit 2009: Chrysler adds Jeep Patriot EV to its ER-EV lineup 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Chrysler has added a fourth member to its family of prospective electric and extended range electric vehicles. The Jeep Patriot EV may be actually be the most viable member based on its relatively compact size. Like the larger Wrangler and Chrysler Town and Country, the Patriot uses electric ...

Detroit 2009: Toyota's iQ based FT-EV concept to hit production in 2012 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

In addition to the new third generation Prius and its sibling the Lexus HS250h, Toyota will be showing a battery electric concept here in Detroit called the FT-EV. As previously suspected, the car is based on Toyota's new iQ mini-car. Prior to the opening of the show, Toyota sent out a press ...

Mystery GEM based EV spotted being prepared for Detroit show 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

It's now less than 24 hours until the first press conferences begin at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and we'll be there in full force with Sebastian and myself joining a contingent of the Autoblog team at Cobo Hall. However, just like kids waiting to open their ...

Detroit Preview: BYD's F3DM plug-in hybrid will be unveiled Monday 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

BYD's F3DM plug-in hybrid is already on sale in China, but that won't stop the Chinese automaker from trying to make a big splash with the PHEV in Detroit on Monday. BYD will unveil the car to the North American audience just before 11 am that day on the main floor of Cobo Hall. At that time, we're ...

New Dodge EV to be called Circuit 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The sleuths over at Jalopnik have managed to uncover the name of the new electric Dodge that is expected to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week: the Dodge Circuit. The news comes by way of the US Patent and Trademark Office, and after a little bit of searching we managed to locate the official ...

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