Auto Shows (Page 70)

We have known for some time now that the Chevrolet Aveo would receive a name change for the 2012 model year as the new Chevy Sonic as GM attempts to shed the less-than-great reputation of their b-segment lineup and to help with that, the 2011 Detroit Auto Show also brought us the Sonic Z-Spec Concept.

Heide Performance Products (HPP) of Madison Heights, Michigan has become a regular with their custom-built modern muscle cars at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas but with the help from the folks at Mopar, HPP used the 2011 Detroit Auto Show to expose the sinister side of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 with the Mopar Super S Concept.

Electric Avenue at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, also known as 2011 NAIAS, was moved from the main floor to the lower level at Cobo Center, but lit the way even more toward free rides and drives of electric vehicles.

When the 2012 Buick Verano was unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the industry was introduced to the second use of the platform first seen for the new Chevrolet Cruze but the Verano is far more than just a rebadged Cruze.

The key focus of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show is showing off new production and concept vehicles from around the American auto industry but the basement of Cobo Hall has spent the past few years as a low-speed driving course for the greenest (zero emission) vehicles in attendance and this year, the 2011 Chevy Volt was among the vehicles available for a test drive.

The 2011 Detroit Auto Show and the NAIAS organization missed the presence of Porsche last year. For its return appearance, the company showed its creativity with the 918 RSR, and the panel of judges all agreed it deserved Best Concept.

Kia has put the 2011 Detroit Auto Show firmly in its rearview mirror with the release of sketches of the 2012 Kia Rio that will be shown at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in March. So, apparently the Kia KV7 concept literally is yesterday’s news.

Toyota already enjoys plenty of notoriety with its Prius Hybrid. Now the 2011 Detroit Auto Show shows Toyota doing more than expanding the vehicle’s length with the V and showing a sportier C concept. It’s the expansion of the platform’s marketability.

Some years at auto shows like the Detroit Auto Show are more visionary than others. No matter what the mood, though, you can always depend on the two major creative displays by students: Michelin Design Challenge and the College for Creative Studies (CCS).

It’s not likely that 100 years from now Chevrolet will look back on the introduction of the Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show as a highlight in its history but the new compact is the first new model to kick off Chevrolet’s centennial celebration.

The first of two media days for the Detroit Auto Show in 2011 is showing a big emphasis on stunning design reveals in spite of the fact that most announcements today were eclipsed by the manufacturers themselves releasing news and photos ahead of time.

Hyundai announced today at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that it wants to be known as a “modern premium” brand going forward. In other words, high quality at a lower pricepoint.

The Prius brand is growing as Toyota rolls out the more versatile Prius v midsize that joins the third-generation Prius and a Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. A fourth Prius, the Prius c Concept, was also introduced at the Detroit Auto Show.

BMW introduced two hot new models at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit: the 1 Series M Coupe and the 650i Convertible. The latter has a much improved look from the previous generation, which always looked unwieldy.

Careers are on the upswing at Ford with the announcement of 7000 new jobs. Hiring begins almost immediately with salary employment recruitment starting Jan. 11 and 12 during the 2011 North American International Auto Show industry preview days.

The Ford Vertek concept introduced at the Detroit Auto Show is a road map to where Ford is heading with its smaller utility vehicles for the North American and world markets with its versatile new C-segment platform.

Ford has unveiled its electrification strategy at the Detroit Auto Show and it includes a plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi and a traditional hybrid C-Max. The all-electric Ford Focus was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.