Latest Auto News Blog: detroit

Показаны сообщения с ярлыком detroit. Показать все сообщения

Detroit 2009: Ford's Mustang Alley features accessory wheels for 2010 model

Filed under: Aftermarket, Detroit Auto Show, Sports/GTs, Ford

Click above the see the full lineup of Mustang accessory wheels

Don't like the stock wheels on the new Mustang? No worries. Over at the Ford booth at this year's Detroit Auto Show, the 'Stang has its own little area dubbed "Mustang Alley" featuring a display of hoods employed through the years (pretty cool) and a "Mustang Garage" wall with the full lineup of accessory wheels available for the new pony. Ford Racing has offered a variety of wheels before, but this is something else entirely, as it seems Ford would like to redirect some of those aftermarket bucks right back into the coffers at Dearborn. Some of these are really good looking - the gold 20-inchers above look particularly great in person - and we've got the whole lineup posted in the gallery below. Click away.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang Accessory Wheels

Detroit 2009: Ford's Mustang Alley features accessory wheels for 2010 model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

| |

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen BlueSport concept, turbodiesel done right

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertibles, Volkswagen

Click above for a gallery of the Volkswagen Bluesport

The term "diesel performance" is an oxymoron to the majority of the public, but if the Volkswagen Bluesport makes it to production, these two diametrically-opposed words could have new meaning.

Later today at the Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen will take the wraps off the Bluesport concept, a two-door roadster packing a mid-mounted 2.0-liter turbodiesel four putting out 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. With around 2,600 pounds to motivate the Bluesport, VW estimates a run from 0 to 60 in 6.2 seconds, a top speed of 140 and, just as importantly, 35 mpg on the European cycle. UPDATE: According to official numbers from VW, we're actually talking an amazing 57 mpg in Eco mode.

The power from the mid-mounted diesel will be sent to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox mounted closer to the front of the car and resulting in a 45:55 front-to-rear weight distribution. The overall length is just over 13 feet, with a wheelbase of 96 inches, a front track 58.5 inches and a rear track of 60 inches. Two storage areas - one frunk and another mounted behind the engine - result in 182 liters of cargo area.

It's a compelling package that we're looking forward to scooping out in person. Check back this afternoon for more.

Gallery: Detroit Preview: Volkswagen BlueSport Concept

[Sources: Auto Motor und Sport, MotorAuthority]

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen BlueSport concept, turbodiesel done right originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

| |

Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Ford

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus

Last month, Ford's President of the Americas Mark Fields remarked that it was going to be like 1986 all over again when the 2010 Ford Taurus arrives. The original Taurus that debuted during the Reagan Era was certainly groundbreaking, not only for its aerodynamic design that was unique in the mid-size sedan segment of the day, but also its tremendous value versus the competition. That car went on to become the best-selling passenger vehicle in the U.S. during the early '90s before a series of successively worse redesigns saw it fall from grace. It was sold uninterrupted for 21 years until late 2006 when the final one rolled off the assembly line at the company's assembly plant in Hapeville, GA. By that time, sales to the public had ceased and Ford was only selling the Taurus to fleets and rental companies, which had become the car's biggest customers as more and more families bought Camrys and Accords.

Then came Alan Mulally. Bill Ford Jr. replaced himself as CEO with Boeing's ex-head honcho and one of this Kansas-bred boy's first actions at the Blue Oval was to resurrect the Taurus name. Ford's new large sedan, the Five Hundred, wasn't selling well, and it was thought that slapping the Taurus name on it would help things. It didn't, and despite some substantive improvements to the car, the newly minted Taurus v2.0 earned a reputation for being a good but not great car that sold just enough to justify its existence.

The new 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned, and Ford hopes all these changes to the exterior, interior, platform and powertrain will add up to a full-size car worthy of the Taurus name. Will it become the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. again? Not likely, but it will be a new halo car for the Ford brand that's crammed with all the best technology and state-of-the-art engines. Follow the jump to find out more.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus - LIVE

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986

Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

| |

Japanese CEOs sitting out Detroit show, scale back the glitz

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Honda, Toyota

Honda and Toyota may not be joining their colleagues at Nissan, Mitsubishi and Suzuki in canceling their participation in this year's Detroit Auto Show, but they still won't be laying on the glitz and glamor that have become the mainstay of past events.

For starters, both Honda's and Toyota's CEOs won't be attending, even though the market is vital to their success. Beyond that, neither will be holding press conferences to unveil their new hybrids, simply placing the vehicles on their show stands and waiting for questions. No parties, either, as they acknowledge the economic state of the industry leaves little to celebrate this year. The automakers didn't give any specific reasons for their decision to scale things back, but sources suggest that the move was made out of deference to the difficulties faced by their rivals in Detroit.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Junko Kimura/Getty]

Japanese CEOs sitting out Detroit show, scale back the glitz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | | |

Kia not slowing down 2009 Auto show plans, lots of debuts coming

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Kia

Click above for more detail shots of the Kia Forte

Despite the downbeat news out of Motown, good things are on the way from some of the transplants. Kia, in particular, is feeling pretty upbeat these days and is the only automaker that's decided to throw a holiday shin-dig in Detroit (so far) this year. While Honda and Nissan have cancelled plans for press conferences at the Detroit Auto Show, Kia will have debut new models in the Motor City, as well as in Chicago and New York. Fedorak told us that a brand new concept would be unveiled in Detroit while the US version of the compact Forte sedan will be shown in Chicago. Fedorak also promised something new for New York, but didn't give up any hints.

But one no show to the party was the Kia Soul. Immediately after the LA Auto Show, the Soul was packed on a truck and sent off in the general direction of Detroit. Unfortunately, a large snow bank ambushed the truck somewhere in the western states, causing it to run late and miss the party.

Gallery: Kia Forte leaked detail shots