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Posts Tagged “08 Detroit Auto Show”

detroit auto show

Mazda Furai Concept Running in Display Stand

You thought you had seen the last of the 2008 Mazda Furai concept didn't you? We certainly had enough coverage on the lusty concept that didn't make Popular Mechanics' Top 10 New Cars of Detroit list. What with the teaser photos, track video, live reveal shots, and super sneaky close ups - but no, we're not done yet. How about video of the ethanol powered Nagare-gasm running on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show? Would you like that? Yeah, we thought you would.

Feature

3:00 PM on Fri Jan 18 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,787 views, 47 comments

Latest by MeDuh: yup, the chase car was a 997, with no hope of keeping up seemingly. more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Michigan Plans To Expand Cobo Convention Center

The Cobo Center, home to the Detroit Auto Show, provides approximately $600 million annually to the local economies, with much of that money coming from the show itself. With that in mind, state and local officials are working on a plan to spend $595 million to expand and renovate the center. This change would include adding an additional 120,000 square feet, which would create room for even more automakers (C'mon Tata, show us your Nanos). We're supportive of the idea, if only to create space for more surprise Chinese test drives and booth babes. [AP via MLive]

Feature

5:15 PM on Thu Jan 17 2008
By Matt Hardigree
428 views, 10 comments

Latest by philibuster: @damnElantra: "Don't you mean 3 million dollars?" more »

el camino

No Holden VE Sportwagon For U.S.: A Nation of Big Back End-Lovin' Auto Enthusiasts Mourn

We can hardly believe our eyes. We all were under the impression after the last set of rumors from Automotive News that we here in the U.S. would be seeing a Zeta-platformed wagon and ute sometime before the end of the decade. We'd even done our darndest trying to track down that rumor ourselves — first with Rick Wagoner at CES, then with Lutz himself at Detroit on Tuesday morning. Now, Australian auto media site GoAuto is reporting GM's main product man told them and other members of the media from down under the United States will not be seeing a Holden VE Sportwagon-based wagon. How could "Maximum" Bob Lutz leave us out in the cold like this? Here's how and why — straight from his "Maximum" mouth:
"We looked at that, but the amount of change to meet US regulations was going to be quite a lot of money...and the sad truth is, as much as some of us like 'sportwagons', they just don't sell in the US.
More »

Feature

8:20 AM on Thu Jan 17 2008
By Ray Wert
2,007 views, 103 comments

Latest by remitter: "sportwagons, they just don't sell in the US" Maybe if US made a good looking wagon like this this one! we don't want am el-Camino or another lame ass SSR looking vehicle more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Maserati Reminds You You're Too Poor to Afford a QP Collezione Cento


In Italian, Collezione Cento means "Collection of One Hundred," and we're guessing you're not one of the hundred getting the Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento. And just in case you didn't get the picture, Maserati reminded us in a press conference they could give less than a shit about the "mass wealthy" (head over to SpeedSportLife for a report on the ridiculousness). In this video, our favorite Maserati press person runs through the features: tufted leather, mother of pearl, full internet connectivity, touchscreens, wireless keyboard and anti-poverty repellent. Why are the pretty ones always so expensive?

Feature

5:45 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,078 views, 38 comments

Latest by SuperCarnitas: The superwealthy, apparently, are hungry: Drive a Maser, get steaks. [www.maseratiamerica.com] more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Jalopnik's Exclusive First Tailgate In 2009 Dodge Ram

We were breaking stories like madmen at Detroit, after our world exclusive drive through Cobo we went to see the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 to have the world's first tailgate using the awesome new RamBox feature. And who volunteered to down the first bottle? Why that would be Dan Bodene of Chrysler Communications. Drink it down boys.


Feature

5:30 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
5,050 views, 20 comments

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Dodge Ram Versus 2009 Ford F-150

Since the motoring press is not going to get to get our hands on either the 2009 Dodge Ram or the 2009 Ford F-150 for a while we thought we'd jump the gun and do a comparison based off things we've seen and scraps of info they've told us.

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Feature

4:30 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
6,609 views, 59 comments

Latest by Lapko: The Dodge is way better........even though I hate the two tone paint job. more »

detroit auto show

Who Had Your Favorite Booth Babes?

Normally booth babes are virtually invisible at the Detroit Auto Show - all bundled up in pantsuits and acting as "spokesmodels". This year saw some cracks in the wall of political correctness through which a few foreign manufacturers snuck in very lovely ways to make a bunch of dudes look at their cars. The field of candidates expanded this year to include our darling of the show BYD, as well as BMW, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, and Audi. We certainly enjoyed taking these pictures, and now we want to know which manufacturer went above and beyond with the most fetching selection of spokesmodels. Poll after the jump.
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Feature

3:30 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
7,828 views, 87 comments

Latest by cadmonkey: BYD - Lookin great - your mom (a coworker) pointed me to the site :) Kinda weird... Sorry about your fiasco on the last day. more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Fisker Has Seen The Future, And The Future Is Bar Graphs

Though the Fisker Karma Hybrid has a significant backer in VC firm Kleiner-Perkings, much of the Karma prototype we saw was still held together with epoxy. In fact, we weren't even allowed to open the doors ourselves. A specially trained assistant was there to make sure we didn't break the car. All this goes to say that the bar graphs designed to show consumption (left) and range (right) may not make it in and, hopefully, will receive something better looking than the gelled inserts seen here.

Feature

3:00 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,529 views, 23 comments

Latest by KMII: Fisker was watching V for Vendetta a bit too much when designing the front. Why do designers these days find it so had to design a decent looking front on a car? First the Hannibal Lecter Audi and now this... more »

question of the day

Give Us Your Grades

The Detroit Auto Show was an absolute hootenanny of reveals, confirmed rumors, shattered expectations, and free tea sets. Of course, we handed out grades to automakers. And you, dear readers? Which ones did you think flunked? Which soared? And which aimed squarely for the mediocre middle? Don't hold back. Spare the rod and spoil the child.

Feature

1:30 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matthew DeBord
1,007 views, 45 comments

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Fallen Firefighters Memorial Rig

Tucked into a corner of the basement is a 1937 Seagrave Safety Sedan, known amongst fire truck junkies as the Detroit Safety Sedan and it represents one of the more interesting untold stories here at Detroit. When a firefighter falls in the line of duty, there is a longstanding tradition of using a firetruck as the funeral hearse to honor the family and the deceased. The tradition of the final ride has become difficult, as fire trucks have grown in size and height. Seeing the problem, the Detroit Fireman's Fund Association decided to set out to do something about it.

More »

Feature

1:00 PM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,345 views, 17 comments

Latest by stevecmh: i really like that.. trust me i never want to use my fire engine for that purpose more »

detroit auto show

The Jalopnik 2008 Detroit Auto Show Automaker Report Card

As our time at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show draws to a close we're ready to crank up our powerful evaluation device, based on technology available to any third grader, to grade each of the automakers ( and major quasi-subsidiaries) on the most important metric of this, the Super Bowl of auto shows, buzz. Prepare for As, Bs, Cs, Ds, pluses and minuses—and yes, an F! The grades are subjective, but then again, so is buzz. Remember carmakers — this all goes down on your permanent record and yes, Chrysler — before your hands go up — your parents will be receiving a copy. The pain and the pleasure, after the jump. More »

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11:30 AM on Wed Jan 16 2008
4,839 views, 29 comments

Latest by DetroitWhat: You should have given Porsche an F for not even showing up! more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Hummer HX and the Halo Warthog, The Final Word


I had a chance to talk with David Rojas and Robert Jablonski, the exterior and interior designers of the Hummer HX Concept with one question on the table: What's the link between the HX and the Warthog from Halo? The answer wasn't as clear as I was hoping. I couldn't get either of the twentysomething designers to admit that the HX was inspired in any least bit by the Warthog from Halo, but I think I can still make a case, even though GM has already openly denied any kind of a link between the two. More »

Feature

10:15 AM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Travis Hudson
3,826 views, 30 comments

Latest by surkh: If you wanna talk about the influence the gaming industry has had on the auto industry, you only have to look at the introduction of the Subaru WRX STi, the Mitsu Lancer EVO, and the Nissan [Skyline] GT-R to the more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: We Get The Down Low On The Passat CC


The PR people at VeeDub were more than happy to give us a walk through of the black Volkswagen CC, which looks even better than the silver model. Though it's called the Passat CC, and will be likely thought of as a Passat, the current talk is that they'll drop the Passat moniker and offer it as the next step up for VW buyers that didn't go for Phaeton and would otherwise get an Audi or BMW. And we included a close up of the doors for those that asked.Who loves you?

Feature

9:45 AM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,405 views, 29 comments

Latest by Stoatmaster: @ash78: The best one is in the centre of Berlin. Starts off with a window of Skoda, then VW, and eventually goes round the corner into a shopping arcade, where it continues with a Bentley and finally a Bugatti window. Very odd indeed. Odd more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show, Day Four

We had a little too much fun yesterday, as you can see above. Though the last press day of the Detroit Auto Show is supposed to be a bit slower, no one got the memo. Our staff continued to burn off pretzels running through Cobo Hall chasing stories and, unsuccessfully, the cuter car models. We'd like to share with you stories of romantic conquest, but in lieu of that here are the stories that rocked Detroit yesterday.

&mdash The Chinese Are Here: The folks from Tang Hua shared a Book of Songs with us that was actually a Recreation of Genitalia, as well as a Detroit Fish designed for our president's ranch.

&mdash Funkmaster Flex: His Flexness played a visit to Detroit and surprised us by deciding to talk about the Tata Nano.

&mdash American Le Mans Series: Corvette showed us their E85-powered Corvette race car. We fantasized about racing it around Iowa.

&mdash The Chinese Take Hostages: The Chairman of BYD takes us on a surprise test-drive through Cobo thus proving his car works. BYD's youngest American auto executive takes a few girls to get drinks thus proving he's cooler than we gave him credit for.

&mdash BMW Engines: BMW pens a love note to diesel engines, thereby revolutionizing the automotive memo.

&mdash Porsche: Our friends from Porsche shocked the auto show with an unsurprising surprise.
&mdash VW Passat CC: VW reminds us that parking yourself is soooo 19th century.

&mdash Concept Cars: We talk about the concept cars that will never see production, though we're still holding out hope for the Alfa BAT.

And if you missed all the fun, check out all that was at the place that advertises all that will be:

Detroit Auto Show, Day One

Detroit Auto Show, Day Two

Detroit Auto Show, Day Three

Feature

9:01 AM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
536 views, 3 comments

Latest by tedrossman: Diesel Doings at the NAIAS: It's Easy Being Green In Detroit, January usually means gray skies. But this January the predominant color is green, since the 2008 North American International Auto Show was seeking to answer the big question "Which shades more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: How Many Burly Men Can Fit In A Smart?


British cheerleaders set the world record for most people crammed into a Smart car by cramming 14 lassies into the diminutive city car. Being the sporting gents we are, we decided to see how many burly Detroit Auto Show goers could fit, including Ben and our videographer Mark. The result? If you count them up we could only get five strapping young men inside (and it was hot as hell). Thanks to John and Mike from CreditSuisse for being good sports.

Feature

8:30 AM on Wed Jan 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,848 views, 39 comments

Latest by DiscoQuinn: I'm 6'0 180#, and my friend is 6'2 200#, we both fit in my Smart car comfortably and there's room to spare for a week's worth of groceries for two people in the back. Though those are for me and more »

Anyone want to buy a 2009 Corvette ZR1? The official website just went live. [Chevy]

26 comments

detroit auto show

Commenter of the Day: Detroit Auto Show Dragons Edition

For better or worse, dragons have become something of a meme around here. Well, it looks like they're here to stay, with Spense delivering a comment in the BMW Hearts Diesel piece that seriously had the entire staff in fits here in the Cobo Hall press room. Check it out after the jump. More »

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5:30 PM on Tue Jan 15 2008
By Wes Siler
2,649 views, 80 comments

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Top Five Concept Car Features That'll Never See Production

Concept cars are notorious for rarely making it to the street. But what about the enticing features that designers include in their dreamy visions of our automotive future? We combed through the files we've amassed at the show this week and come up with five features that don't stand a chance in hell of ever escaping the shimmering incubator of the world's design studios. Count 'em down, after the jump. More »

Feature

5:10 PM on Tue Jan 15 2008
By Mike Spinelli
31,747 views, 44 comments

Latest by zmarn: Maybach EXELERO [en.wikipedia.org] [www.metacafe.com] [www.das-projekt.com] more »