Motor Authority - blog Tag: Detroit Auto Show

Sales figures for the R-Class haven’t managed to live up to the expectations of the German luxury brand, but Mercedes-Benz is determined not to completely write-off its ‘Grand Sport Tourer’ just yet. The R-Class received a mild facelift in 2007 to help turn around flagging sales, but a second and more extensive update is in fact planned for the 2011 model year as previewed by these latest spy shots of a prototype caught testing in Germany.

The first facelift came less than two years after the vehicle was first shown at 2005’s New York Auto Show, and was implemented mainly to increase the car’s desirability. A...

Sales figures for the R-Class haven’t managed to live up to the expectations of the German luxury brand, but Mercedes-Benz is determined not to completely write-off its ‘Grand Sport Tourer’ just yet. The R-Class received a mild facelift in 2007 to help turn around flagging sales, but a second and more extensive update is in fact planned for the 2011 model year as previewed by these latest spy shots of a prototype caught testing in Germany. The first facelift came less than two years after the vehicle was first shown at 2005’s New York Auto Show, and was implemented mainly to increase the car’s desirability. A cheaper rear-wheel drive model was added to the lineup as well as a more flexible seven-seater model, but other than that the R-Class remained mostly unchanged. For the next update Mercedes-Benz will give the car a major styling overhaul with a new front-end planned as well as a slightly revised rear and interior. Expected to be launched in the second half of next year, the new R-Class appears to receive the same squared-off treatment as seen on the A- and B-Class models, including angular headlights and a larger more prominent grille. At the rear there appear to be only minor changes, with a redesigned bumper, exhaust tips and LED tail-lamps. Expect to see the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class facelift make its world debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January. Read More

Fear-mongering reached new heights in the automotive world on the eve of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, with naysayers predicting more somber processions and hushed voices than the average state funeral. The event, arguably one of the biggest in the industry, had several noticeable empty booths--including Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Land Rover, Porsche, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki.

Despite the despair of the past year, 2010 looks brighter for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Organizers have confirmed that next year’s show will be at least as big as 2009 and there’s hope that some of the missing...

Fear-mongering reached new heights in the automotive world on the eve of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, with naysayers predicting more somber processions and hushed voices than the average state funeral. The event, arguably one of the biggest in the industry, had several noticeable empty booths--including Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Land Rover, Porsche, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki. Despite the despair of the past year, 2010 looks brighter for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Organizers have confirmed that next year’s show will be at least as big as 2009 and there’s hope that some of the missing brands will return. "Every space on the main floor is full," show chairman Doug Fox said during an interview at last week’s 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. Fox didn’t reveal any names of brands that may be returning to the Detroit event in 2010 but there’s a strong chance that Porsche may be among them (Porsche was one of the first brands to pull out). "Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are going to make very important statements that they're back and about where they're going," Fox said. Italian auto giant Fiat, which now controls Chrysler, is also rumored to be planning a major showing of its new models destined for the U.S.—the Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo Milano (149 replacement). Some other highlights could be the arrival of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra at the show, at least one Chinese automaker and a new “Electric Avenue” dedicated arena. [Detroit Free Press] Read More

Tesla has recently reached the start-up milestone of profitability, and it's currently at work to build a facility that will let it produce the Model S electric sedan, and to top it all, the company is working on a new variation of the all-electric Roadster sports car. The new car is called the Roadster Sport and it is essentially a more powerful version of the existing Roadster.

The Roadster Sport has 15% more peak power than the 248-horsepower Roadster and will go from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (the standard model takes 3.9 seconds). The vehicle also comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and...

Tesla has recently reached the start-up milestone of profitability, and it's currently at work to build a facility that will let it produce the Model S electric sedan, and to top it all, the company is working on a new variation of the all-electric Roadster sports car. The new car is called the Roadster Sport and it is essentially a more powerful version of the existing Roadster. The Roadster Sport has 15% more peak power than the 248-horsepower Roadster and will go from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (the standard model takes 3.9 seconds). The vehicle also comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and higher peak torque (the stator is the stationary part of an electric generator or electric motor). The motor still spins to a redline of 14,000rpm, with drive being sent to the rear wheels. In addition to high-performance Yokohama tires, the Roadster Sport also has improved suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that will be tuned to the driver's preference. Tesla plans to start taking orders for the new model from today, and has priced it at $128,500 in the United States and €112,000 (excluding VAT) in Europe. First deliveries are scheduled to start in late June, and anyone who has already ordered the standard Roadster can upgrade to the new Roadster Sport. 2009 Tesla Roadster Sport   Tesla Roadster Read More

Lexus has confirmed that its all-new HS 250h dedicated hybrid won’t go on sale in Europe because its carbon-dioxide emissions are already close to the similarly sized IS 220d diesel sedan. In its place, however, an IS-based hybrid could be in the works.

News of the IS hybrid, which originates with Autocar, is surprising given that the same arguments that apply to the HS 250h's exclusion would likely apply to the IS. On the other hand, the IS is positioned differently in Europe than it is in the U.S., and that would mean that the HS and IS would compete directly with each other.

Making a hybrid option available in the IS and Toyota... Lexus has confirmed that its all-new HS 250h dedicated hybrid won’t go on sale in Europe because its carbon-dioxide emissions are already close to the similarly sized IS 220d diesel sedan. In its place, however, an IS-based hybrid could be in the works. News of the IS hybrid, which originates with Autocar, is surprising given that the same arguments that apply to the HS 250h's exclusion would likely apply to the IS. On the other hand, the IS is positioned differently in Europe than it is in the U.S., and that would mean that the HS and IS would compete directly with each other. Making a hybrid option available in the IS and Toyota Avensis (a wagon-like five-door) could make sense for buyers looking for lower running costs - the hybrid powertrain would require only less expensive 87-octane petrol, potentially making it competitive in terms of overall cost-savings with diesel powered vehicles. Toyota’s chief of marketing communications in Europe, Serge Gachot, revealed to Automotive News back in January that the HS 250h was never intended for Europe. According to an inside source, Lexus expects the 187hp (140kW) HS 250h to offer similar performance to the IS 220d, which is sold exclusively in Europe. Lexus still plans to offer hybrid versions of its GS, LS and RX model as none of these vehicles are offered with a diesel option yet.2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan Read More

Chrysler intends to launch its first all-electric model by next year according to a recent interview with Lou Rhodes, Chrysler's ENVI division president, and unlike its rivals, the now-Fiat-aligned carmaker is planning a high-performance sports model as its entry into the burgeoning segment.

Chrysler’s pre-bankruptcy viability plan also told of the Circuit EV's production, but intervening events but the plan under considerable doubt. But the interview with Rhodes makes it clear that the company’s first electric car will be a production version of the Circuit EV.

With performance that rivals the Tesla Roadster but a price that... Chrysler intends to launch its first all-electric model by next year according to a recent interview with Lou Rhodes, Chrysler's ENVI division president, and unlike its rivals, the now-Fiat-aligned carmaker is planning a high-performance sports model as its entry into the burgeoning segment. Chrysler’s pre-bankruptcy viability plan also told of the Circuit EV's production, but intervening events but the plan under considerable doubt. But the interview with Rhodes makes it clear that the company’s first electric car will be a production version of the Circuit EV. With performance that rivals the Tesla Roadster but a price that will undercut by "tens of thousands", the Dodge Circuit EV should prove a huge success, provided it can deliver on its claims. We’ve already seen a preview of the car in the form of the Dodge Circuit EV concept from January’s Detroit Auto Show, and the production version would have its chassis assembled by Lotus in Europe, then shipped to the U.S. for the electric drivetrain install. As yet, there's not official timeline for the car's release, but prototypes are currently under testing. Following the sports car, CNNMoney previously reported that Chrysler will then add electric sedans, SUVs and crossover models, and some also based on Fiat platforms. Via: AllCarsElectric2009 Dodge Circuit EV concept Read More

Hybrid-electric and other green propulsion systems are as much a theme of the current climate as is the restructuring and 'right-sizing' of the industry - even more so, at ground-level. Audi is doing its part to contribute to the swell of green vehicles and announcements by revealing its plans to bring a Q5 hybrid SUV to the U.S., most likely by 2011.

Already Lexus' new RX 450h is leading the compact crossover hybrid race and BMW is positioned to make an entry eventually with the X6 ActiveHybrid, so Audi's decision is as much about competition as it is innovation.

TheCarConnection is reporting that Audi will fit a new petrol-electric ... Hybrid-electric and other green propulsion systems are as much a theme of the current climate as is the restructuring and 'right-sizing' of the industry - even more so, at ground-level. Audi is doing its part to contribute to the swell of green vehicles and announcements by revealing its plans to bring a Q5 hybrid SUV to the U.S., most likely by 2011. Already Lexus' new RX 450h is leading the compact crossover hybrid race and BMW is positioned to make an entry eventually with the X6 ActiveHybrid, so Audi's decision is as much about competition as it is innovation. TheCarConnection is reporting that Audi will fit a new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain to the Q5 in 2011, and since the compact SUV shares much of its design with the A4 and A5 models the hybrid option may filter across to these as well. After the launch of the hybrid, Audi is then expected to introduce an efficient turbodiesel version of the Q5. The latest news follows comments originating with Wolfgang Hatz, Audi's head of powertrain development, back at January’s Detroit Auto Show. Hatz cautioned that diesel is a more practical alternative, but there’s a catch. The cost-effectiveness of diesel technology is greater, though that calculus in the U.S. is very different from Europe, where the price of fuel is higher in general and the differential between diesel and petrol isn't as great. Whether that calculation works out so dramatically in favor of diesel, however, acceptance of hybrid technology is clearly much greater in the U.S. That alone might be enough to justify the decision to bring in the hybrid Q5 before the diesel.2009 Audi Q5 European specification Read More