Mercedes-Benz will launch its new four-door coupe CLS class on Jan. 29 in Europe: the 125th anniversary of the day in 1886 that Carl Benz filed a patent application (number 37435) at the Reich patent office for his "vehicle operated by gas engine."
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.
Using the time-honored phrase of “leaving to pursue further career opportunities,” Saab has announced that Michael “Mike” Colleran is out as president of Saab USA just as the company is gearing up its resurgence in the United States.
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.
The 2011 Detroit Auto Show opened the first day of press preview with a major NAIAS event, the Car & Truck of the Year Awards, and ended the second press day with the EyesOn Design (EOD) Awards in two segments for design excellence: concept and production.
The 2011 Detroit Auto Show is all about showing off new models for most automakers but this year, Bentley and Bugatti used the industry’s biggest stage for an official change of their chief executive officer (CEO) as Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen handed over the keys to the two super-exotic auto companies to 52 year old Wolfgang Dürheimer.
Just one day after Toyota announced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that it is bringing out a hatchback version of the Toyota Prius, GM CEO Dan Akerson said today that the Chevrolet Volt will come out in hatchback form, too, as well as a minivan.
Lost amidst all the hype for the 2011 North American Truck of the Year was the somewhat stealth announcement that the Kia Sportage was named 2011 International Truck of the Year at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
