Chrysler provided us with an exclusive walk-through of their 2009 200C Concept at the Detroit Auto Show and we were most impressed by the integrated next-gen Uconnect system. Unlike Ford, who merely provided video evidence of their in-car media system (creepy avatar included), Chrysler built a fully functioning Wi-Fi enabled proof-of-concept into the 200C.

Brad Gieske, a designer at Chrysler, provided us with an in-depth look at the system from the user provided "smart phone" that controls all of the cars auxiliary functions; the concave glass surface that replaces a typical centerstack and cluster; to the pull-out tablet style control interface for passengers. While there were a few bugs in the system, mostly from an ultra-sensitive touch surface, the Chrysler team really provided a clear indication for the future of the Uconnect system.

The "smart phone" that acts as the car's key fob looks a whole hell of a lot like an Apple iPhone, but Gieske tells me that the system can be configured to any phone through a simple download service. It controls the typical key fob functions like lock/unlock and panic, but provides much more beyond just that. The phone/fob is capable of locating your car via GPS and an on-screen map; it can also raise/lower the windows, turn the lights on/off, turn on the AC/heat and it can also snap images/video of the vehicle's interior if the car is ever stolen or your horny teen is making a pass on his girlfriend. These are pretty cool features that seem to be possible today, so hopefully we won't have to wait for long.

The Uconnect system itself is designed into the 200C Concept's IP surface and features a concave, black glass surface with a projected image from the backside. The surface itself is controlled via a touch surface that seemed to be a little temperamental on the day that we were given the demonstration, but not enough to distract from the overall usability of the system.

In order to start the car, a large green power button glows on the center stack area of the touch panel, which when touched, illuminates the rest of the display surface. The main control area is designed to simulate a trackball of sorts with different icons set on a rotatable axis, all virtual of course. This control surface allows the manipulation of many of the cars different configurations like the audio, media, navigation and user settings.

A secondary auxiliary tablet-style display is carefully hidden in the passenger-side IP and when removed reveals an Apple Coverflow-like display. This secondary controller is set up for any passenger of the vehicle to listen to music, watch video and it can even serve as a route planner with transferable navigation data being sent to the in-dash Uconnect system.

Steve Holmes, Chrysler Component Design Manager, had this to say about the system:

This is what’s so different about Chrysler, we strived to make this work. It’s to show that we can do this, that the technology is there. It’s easy to show videos (referring to Ford). We really busted our ass to get this system to work. The curved surfaces, we didn’t want to have it be rectangular, we wanted it to fit in uniquely with the surface. We wanted the images to project all the way out so you weren’t looking at a bunch of squares.

And that they did. It worked and it worked well though we thought it was a little humorous when Queen/David Bowie's, Under Pressure, came on during our demonstration. Chrysler, you really were under pressure for this years Detroit Auto Show and while you showed us more vaporware EVs and the exterior of the 200C was nice, it really was the next-gen Uconnect that was the star of your display. We hope to see a version of this concept in the near future.

Okay, so we didn't actually get to drive the real 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, but they provided us some exclusive seat time in their 3D-axis simulator. The awesome desert racing SVT Raptor simulator was created by small family-owned, Force Dynamics out of Trumansburg, NY. David Wiernicki, the president of Force Dynamics, challenged us to a race and proceeded to rip us a new one. We managed a 68.72 time our first time out while Wiernicki ripped a 63.33, a 5-second difference that had us eating our words.

We managed some video of the killer sim in action below as well as a few words from the creator himself.

If you happen to miss the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor simulation at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, you can check it out at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and the following shows:

- Houston 1/24-2/1
- St. Louis 1/28-2/1
- Dallas 2/18-2/22
- Cleveland 2/28-3/8
- KC 3/11-3/15
- Atlanta 3/14-3/22
- Columbus, OH 3/19-3/22
- Austin 4/17-4/19

The mood at the 2009 Detroit show may have been more subdued than in years past (you know, Carpocalypse and all that), but you'd never know it from the photos. The cars are still impossibly shiny, the booth professionals are still, um, doing whatever it is booth professionals do, and automotive enthusiasts are still looking at new cars on the internet. Discuss your favorite photos in the comments.

10.) Volkswagen Bluesport Concept 42 MPG Roadster Officially Revealed

Chrysler Sign Almost Decapitates Detroit Auto Show-goer

Subaru Legacy Concept: Subie Previews New Legacy Look

4.)Chrysler 200C EV Concept: Shockingly Attractive Mid-Size

2.) Lamborghini Holds Euro-Trash Fashion Show

10.) Fisker Karma S Sunset

Fisker's two-seat, droptop Karma Sunset would be a pretty nice place to spend some time, though the lack of any sweet engine note would make it a pointless back road cruiser.

9.) Kia Soul'ster

The little South Korean Geo Tracker-esque Soul'ster looks great, but get us out of the front seat and into the rear so we can have some fun in the sun....wait, no. Rip the seats out and make it a proper El Camino. Yeah, that's what we meant.

8.) Cadillac Converj

The Volt-powered Cadillac Converj had a nice wrap around interior with plenty of tech, but the reason it's not higher on our list is the lack of any real design ingenuity. They would have done better throwing the CTS interior in and calling it a day. Just sayin'.

7.) VW Bluesport

The partially unexpected little diesel roadster from VW made our list because of its focused driver experience and typical VW quality.

6.) Lincoln C

Lincoln's C Concept featured a creepy avatar based multimedia system, that quite frankly, freaked us out. A lot. It's unfortunate Ford's system wasn't a working one like Chrysler's Uconnect. Chrysler 1. Ford 0.

5.) Audi Sportback

Audi always features nicely designed interiors, but this one made us want to touch, touch, touch. The wood accents were gorgeous as were the white leather surfaces. We'd totally make out with a booth professional in there.

4.) Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss

The SLR Stirling Moss looks to be a killer place to receive a couple of bees to the face while buzzing along on the autobahn. Rhyme for the win!

3.) Chrysler 200C

Chrysler presented a very impressive touch-based multimedia system in their 200C that not only worked, it worked pretty well. Like we said - Chrysler 1, Ford 0.

2.) Volvo S60

The crystal center console of the Volvo looked like something that belongs in a Swarovski catalog and that's not a bad thing. Wrapped leather surfaces and techy controls make the S60 Concept one of the hottest cars at the show.

1.) Jalopnik's GEM-Based Mobile Command Center

GEM graciously provided us with their E2 model and it provided us with hours of endless entertainment a great platform to work live on the show floor. If you've been paying attention, you may have seen our Jalopnik mobile command GEM on The Today Show, Fox 2 Detroit, New York Times, Wired (twice) and even AutoblogGreen as a mystery electric car (duh!).

The trend towards building concept cars which hint at the near future, as opposed to creating vehicles for some rocket-powered utopia of the 24th century, accelerated at this year's show thanks to some serious pushing and prodding in the way of higher gas prices in the first half of the year and government dollars in the latter half.

But will they ever see the light of day? Many of them won't, a handful may (depending on the economy) and a few will absolutely. The concepts below are ranked based on the probability they could see production in a mostly complete form, starting with the least likely and ending with a car, at number one, almost certain to go on sale.

11.) Chrysler 200C EV Concept

Likelihood of production: Less Than 1%

Why / Why Not: The 200C EV looks like a future Chrysler vehicle insomuch as it looks like a blend of Hyundai and every other mid-size on the market — boring. Still, considering the segment, it's not too shabby looking and sans the auto show touches this could be a Chrysler Sebring replacement if fitted with a conventional power source. If they ever produce another Sebring.

10.) Jeep Patriot EV

Likelihood of production: 5%

Why / Why Not: It's a Jeep Patriot. With electric power! And by "with electric power" we mean it has stickers proclaiming the car as an electric vehicle. The Patriot, a vehicle with an extremely high coefficient of drag, seems very inefficient as a gasoline vehicle and hilariously inefficient as an electric. We're not holding our breath.

9.) Dodge Circuit EV

Likelihood of production: 8-10%

Why / Why Not: Based on an existing Lotus platform, there's not much engineering Chrysler would have to do to the vehicle to make it a reality — just slap that crossbared-front end on and call it a day. Still, even if Chrysler can grab an electric power source and battery supplier we're still without much hope for the vehicle. Why? Our lack of faith in Chrysler's electric, or any other, future.

8.) Lincoln C Concept

Likelihood of production: 20%

Why / Why Not: There's a lot to like about the C Concept, including the Ford small car global platform and the theoretical four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. We're not sure if Lincoln will actually go in this direction, but we'd love to see a car pull out the C's gorgeous interior and advanced SYNC 2.0.

7.) Cadillac Converj Concept

Likelihood of production: 30%

Why / Why Not: GM may be on the verge of introducing their next batch of green technology, but the first vehicle it will be fitted to will not be a Cadillac. Should the Volt succeed, a Cadillac version isn't out of the picture — especially considering the price point. Hey, if Lexus can roll with a re-badged Prius at a higher price point, why can't the General?

6.) Kia Soul'ster Concept

Likelihood of production: 35%

Why / Why Not: We were going to rank the Kia Soul-atracker-amino closer to the least likely car, despite its production Soul underpinnings, and then an auto journalist we respect said he wanted one. So there we go — market potential if only for the So Cal auto-journo market.

5.) Volkswagen Bluesport Concept

Likelihood of production: 36%

Why / Why Not: Volkswagen's sister Audi already produces a mid-engined roadster, so the idea of a VW one powered by their beloved TDI engine isn't so far fetched. The lack of the usual concept accessories also points to the possibility of such a vehicle.

4.) Toyota FT-EV Concept

Likelihood of production: 55%

Why / Why Not: The Toyota FT-EV, based on the existing Toyota iQ micro car, may not keep the gold paint but it will almost certainly go into production given Toyota's plans for just such a car in the small econobox segment.

3.) Volvo S60 Concept

Likelihood of production: 80%

Why / Why Not: Will Volvo produce another S60? We think so. The styling is radical for the brand's typical image but inline with recent product like the Volvo XC60. We just hope it keeps the viking longboat headlights.

2.5.) Fisker Karma S Sunset

Likelihood of production: 85%

Why / Why Not: Essentially a convertible version of the hardtop, they're already saying this is the "World's First Hybrid Convertible" and have announced they'll build it alongside the sedan version.

2.) Subaru Legacy Concept

Likelihood of production: 90%

Why / Why Not: Give it shiny pearl paint and a "Vote No On Prop 8" bumper sticker and everyone would think it's the new Subaru Legacy because, we expect, there will be a new Subaru Legacy. Some of the heavily worked aspects will probably be toned down but the attractive design is an evolution of what's out there now.

1.) Audi Sportback Concept

Likelihood of production: 99.9%

Why / Why Not: This concept, mostly in this form, will come to the market as the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback. Our source for this great information? Audi told everyone in their press conference. Pontiac may build excitement but Audi sure knows how to build the suspense.

Alpine Electronics revealed that they will be providing the newly released 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2010 Cadillac SRX with a 2-GB flash memory infotainment unit allowing drivers to store music directly on the head unit. They will also provide the new 2010 BMW Z4 with a 1280x480 resolution 8.8-inch double VGA display that is capable of delivering HD-level graphics for the navigation maps and the back-up camera. Mercedes was the most impressive of the trio, receiving a high resolution 6.5 WVGA TFT display with a 40GB on-board hard drive capable of storing thousands of MP3s from an SD card. It also receives an upgraded voice recognition control system, Bluetooth, text-to-speech (unfortunately not available in the U.S.), real time traffic update via Sirius Satellite Radio, Gracenote music tagging and a six-disc DVD Audio/Video changer.

Also of note, is the claim that Alpine will provide a portfolio of environmentally-friendly products to support automakers as they focus their resources on creating energy efficient vehicles. We're waiting to see a head unit constructed entirely out of hemp so we can roll it up and smoke it.

Alpine GM Press Release
Alpine Electronics Supplies 2-GB Flash Memory
Infotainment Unit for 2010 GM Vehicles
DETROIT, (Jan. 9, 2009) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry leading provider of mobile media solutions, today announced it will supply a premium infotainment unit on the all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and 2010 Cadillac SRX. The redesigned vehicles will be unveiled next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new infotainment system will be on display in Alpine’s booth (Room 02-44; Cobo Center) during press and industry preview days.
Alpine’s infotainment package is available on the CXL and CXS LaCrosse models; the LT and LTZ Equinox models; and the Cadillac SRX.
Features include a single DVD/CD player for both movies and audio and AM/FM
radio with an integrated XM® Satellite Radio tuner. Other key features include:
• One of the industry’s first on-board 2-GB flash-based head unit for music storage
• Time-shift audio feature allows listeners to pause, rewind and replay up to one hour of XM Radio or AM/FM programming
• USB 2.0 for iPod® and flash memory connectivity
• Simultaneously plays two digital media audio files so driver and back seat passengers can listen to different songs at the same time
• Rear-seat entertainment support including DVD movie and audio output
• OnStar turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation support
“Our premium infotainment system on these highly anticipated GM vehicles ensures drivers and their passengers never miss a beat,” said Todd Kovach, vice president and general manager, Alpine Electronics. “Today, music is not only on a disc or AM/FM radio – it’s on USB drives, satellite radio and iPods. Our infotainment system allows users to store thousands of songs and even keeps back seat passengers busy with DVD and audio controls. The system also makes it possible to play two different digital media audio tracks simultaneously – so back seat passengers are never limited to listening to what the driver is playing.”

Alpine BMW Press Release
Alpine Electronics to Supply High-Res Display to
All-New 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster
8.8” display is one of the largest center stack displays on market
DETROIT, (Jan. 11, 2009) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industryleading
provider of mobile media solutions, today announced it will supply the 8.8”
center information display on the all-new 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster. The all-new
Roadster was unveiled today at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
The new product will be showcased at Alpine’s booth (Room 02-44; Cobo Center)
during press and industry days.
Alpine’s motorized clamshell-style display opens effortlessly from the center stack
with a simple touch of a button, and seamlessly closes for a sleek look when not in
use. The 1280x480 resolution 8.8” Double VGA (video graphics array) display is one
of the largest center stack displays on the market, delivering high definition visuals
for the Z4’s navigation maps and back-up camera. This display helps improve at-aglance
recognition and reduces eye strain.
“Alpine is proud to be a part of the BMW Z4 Roadster program,” said Todd Kovach,
vice president and general manager of Alpine Electronics. “This center information
display is an example of Alpine’s technology innovation and quality precision at
work. Not only are we leaders in the sound and navigation arenas, Alpine delivers
sleek interior styling solutions that enhance a vehicle’s personality, functionality
and human machine interface (HMI).”

Alpine Mercedes Press Release
Alpine Electronics Supplies Integrated Media Infotainment Systems
to Global Mercedes-Benz Platforms
DETROIT, (Jan. 11, 2009) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industryleading
provider of mobile media solutions, today announced it is supplying head
units to a global Mercedes-Benz program. Alpine made the announcement during
the 2009 North American International Auto Show, where part of the company’s
exhibit (Room 02-44; Cobo Center) includes a Mercedes-Benz SLK350 with a
premium infotainment system.
Alpine head units are available as standard, mid-level and premium equipment on
the Mercedes-Benz SLK, SL, E-Class, CLS, A-Class, B-Class, M-Class, R-Class, GL,
and G-Class vehicles in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Russia, Southeast
Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
“This multi-part, global program is a testament to the quality of Alpine products and
the flexibility of our engineers to meet customer specifications across many vehicle
platforms,” said Todd Kovach, vice president and general manager, Alpine
Electronics. “Alpine has evolved from a sound system icon serving aftermarket
enthusiasts to a Tier One original-equipment supplier supporting multiple platform
requirements to customers around the world. From entry-level head units to
premium navigation systems, we are taking in-vehicle entertainment to the next
level.”
Featuring a hi-resolution 6.5-inch WVGA TFT display, the premium-level
head unit includes a hard-disk drive (HDD) navigation system that uses
advanced technology for faster route calculation, richer map views and user-friendly
human-machine interface (HMI).
The premium system, which is on display in Alpine’s room at the show (02-44),
includes a 40GB hard drive with space dedicated exclusively for music
storage. Users can download thousands of their favorite MP3 tunes from an SD
Card. Other features include:
• Voice recognition for system control
• Bluetooth™ for hands-free telephone connectivity
• Text-to-speech (not available in the U.S.)
• Real time traffic information powered by Sirius® Satellite Radio
• Gracenote® music tagging to capture artist, album and song information
• Six-disc DVD Audio and Video changer
Alpine Electronics Supplies Integrated Media Infotainment Systems to Mercedes-Benz 2
• Teleaid™ interface
• HD™ Radio capability
• Zagat restaurant guide
• Media interface including iPod® integration
• Dolby® Digital
• DTS®
• MP3, WMA, AAC format playback
The mid-level unit, available only in Europe, features a 5-inch TFT display that
controls a DVD-based infotainment system featuring Bluetooth connectivity, voice
command, text-to-speech and navigation with real-time traffic powered by TMC.
The standard head unit features has a 5-inch TFT color screen with AM/FM radio,
single or six-disc changer and Bluetooth™ connectivity.

[via Alpine]

While seemingly not as exciting on paper, there really was still some fun sheetmetal being revealed on the Cobo Hall floor. Here's a brief run-down of the top-trafficked foreign, domestic, real, fake, gas-powered, electric powered, dream-powered, sporty, rugged and, in one case, smoke machine-equipped cars. Remember, your eyeballs chose them.

Below that, we've include all the rest of the reveals that didn't make the cut. So once you've walked through the eye candy in the top ten, hit the links at the bottom to see what else the automakers had goin' on here at Cobo Hall

10.) Toyota FT-EV Concept

Your eyes are not deceiving you, the Toyota FT-EV Concept is a version of the Toyota iQ, but lacking 1.5 seats and adding one lithium-ion battery pack in their place. While sized for Stuart Little, it'll likely be a huge success when a production version is launched in 2012.

9.) Revenge GTM-R

The Revenge GTM-R is a fully tricked-out version of the Factory Five GTM chassis, so it does all the work the GTM buyer would have to do themselves. The GTM-R boasts a GM supplied 427 cubic inch V8 good for 505 HP at 6300 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm.

8.) 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

The all-new Equinox is just like the original, only better. A solid people mover, GM has improved engine and transmission choices while tweaking styling for an aggressive but paunchy look. The interior gets friendlier with plenty improved feel compared to it's predecessor. Think of it as a Malibu wagon, only well fed.

7.) 2010 Lincoln MKS

Lincoln is hoping buyers will sail past cars like the V8-powered Infiniti M45 to look at the Lincoln MKS, which they claim will offer best-in-class highway economy at 25 MPG, and the Lincoln's relatively more powerful V6. Whether or not this actually sways anyone to buy a car from a brand more associated with livery than with living good is another question.

6.) Lincoln C Concept

The Lincoln C Concept is packaged on Ford's global small car platform and brings luxury to a segment not normally associated with it. From a styling standpoint, the C wears cues started on the MKS and now carried through on both the MKT and the MKZ matched with what looks like the wackiest parts of Renault hatchback elements.

5.) Fisker Karma S Sunset

The Fisker Karma S is the world’s first plug-in hybrid convertible. Featuring a folding hardtop and virtually the same lines as the Fisker Karma production car, this is one sexy hybrid.

4.) Jalopnik GEM-Powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center

What is this mystery car? Why it's our very own Jalopnik GEM-powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center, and it's why we've had the fastest coverage at this year's show!

3.) 2010 Toyota Prius

Not only is the new Prius bigger and faster, but it’s more economical too. At 50 MPG the 2010 Toyota Prius will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle for sale in America.

2.) 2010 Toyota Camry

The unexpected reveal of the 2010 Toyota Camry and 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show has left many of us speechless. Speechless as in, we weren't really that surprised to see the next version of the number one selling car in America. The 2010 Camry is expected to go on sale in March.

1.) Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

The Maserati Quattroporte is the original big-boys sedan, one providing both performance and comfort all wrapped in a beautiful Italian body. In order to keep up with the competition, Maser has released the Quattroporte Sport GT S, a new sportier 433 HP model, just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their first Indianapolis 500 win.

Bonus from late Monday:

Volvo S60 Concept

Featuring Volvo's new "racetrack" design, the Volvo S60 Concept previews the newest safety and design features we expect to see on Volvos in the future.

While sitting in the extremely uncomfortable camp-style folding chairs, Brilliance Auto executives rambled on and on about how happy and proud they were to be in Detroit. At one point they even suggested that Brilliance would soon come to the U.S. though we think its as likely as former Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, making a comeback run for Governor. They never actually talked about their products, rather impressed upon us soulless journalists how awesome they are. Though we disagree. Check out their Pininfarina-Giugaro, BMW sponsored, Porsche engineering-inspired, European 4-star crash test designed Brilliance Auto M1, M2, M3 and FRV. They're truly exciting.....Zzzzz.

Four Models Showed In Detroit
Brilliance Auto Seeking Development With Mutual Benefit and Win-Win
2009 North America International Auto Show was held ceremoniously in Detroit, Michigan, United States in Jan. 11th to 25th. Brilliance Auto Group, Chinese national brand main force, showed four models totally, including Brilliance M1, Brilliance M2, Brilliance M3, and Brilliance FRV. Brilliance Auto Group Vice President He Guohua and General Manager of Brilliance Jinbei International Sales Company Shan Long, etc. attended this activity together.
On the exhibition site, Brilliance brand four models forestalled its opponent by a show of strength, either fashionable, or gracious, or dynamic, attracting attention of many guests once appearing.M1, M2, and M3 equipped with Brilliance 1.8T engine, with its excellent power and stable handling, won unanimous appraisal of many guests on the exhibition site. Moreover, FRV, representing brand-new direction of Chinese automobile consumption, with its special appeal of “Big hatch-back”, attracted all people.
The reporter learned that, at present, Brilliance auto has models of Brilliance M1, Brilliance M2, Brilliance M3, Brilliance FRV, Brilliance Wagon, Jinbei Haise minibus, Jinbei Granse MPV etc., with products covering each and all markets of passenger vehicles. The domestic market sales volume of Brilliance brand has broke 280 thousand units. Haise, with sales volume of more than 800 thousand units, occupies half of the light bus market. Market sales volume of light trucks is the number four of the whole nation. Complete vehicle export will break 40 thousand units this year. While basing itself upon domestic market, with a view to global world, Brilliance auto actively carries out cooperation of international technology and market. At present, Export projects of Brilliance car to EU,Russia,Egypt etc. also constantly achieves material breakthrough. “3+1” international market export pattern of Brilliance auto in Europe, North America, Russia and other markets has primarily come into being.
The practice of China’s 30 years reform and opening proves that through active opening to outside, rapid development of Chinese auto industry was brought along. Rising Chinese auto enterprises more need to strengthen communication and intercourse with international auto circle in technical research and development, etc. and realize mutual benefit and win-win. Someone in charge of Brilliance Auto expressed that, it’s necessary for Brilliance Auto to participate in the global construction to promote market consumption standard, only in this way the purpose of mutual benefit and win-win can be realized. We hope that through this exhibition, we can strengthen the communication and intercourse with international auto circle, meanwhile, precious experience can be accumulated for development of Brilliance Auto.
Since 2007, Brilliance Auto has participated in many international auto exhibitions like North America auto exhibition, Paris auto exhibition, Genovese auto exhibition, Frankfurt auto exhibition, and Russia auto exhibition, etc. successively. On these international stages, Brilliance Auto opened a window for the world to know China, fully showed strength of Chinese automobile manufacturing standard. Just in the successful appearance in international auto exhibitions, Brilliance Auto further showed its confidence to actively participate in the global construction.

2010 Toyota Prius Introduction
The Toyota Prius first went on sale in 1997 for the Japanese market and quickly became the number one selling hybrid electric car a few short years after its initial debut. The first generation Prius was not quite the sales success of the second generation, though it was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. The Prius is currently sold in over 40 countries, while the largest sales success has been in Japan and North America.

Exterior Front

The exterior of the prior model Prius was a conservative appliance and rightfully so. That conservative design helped Toyota gain major traction in the hybrid marketplace very early on in the game. While many believe the new model needed a new approach while maintaining its aerodynamic efficiency. But despite the debate, whether or not the profile shape of the Prius is any more aerodynamic than a similarly sized, non-wedged compact sedan, there is a reason behind this form language. Toyota has created the most instantly recognizable hybrid car on the market today and it wasn’t going to lose that image when designing the new car.
Exterior Rear

The rear of the 2010 Toyota Prius carries many of the same design cues of the existing model though Toyota has tidied up the aero efficiency dramatically. The corners are now tighter to prevent air turbulence as well as the upper hatch peak surface. A subtle under body diffuser has been added to aid in the little hybrid’s goal of a 50mpg rating. The LED tail lamps have also been reshaped and follow the concave surface section of the rear hatch.
Interior

The interior of the 2010 Toyota Prius has been heavily revised to resemble something more than just a hybrid appliance. The flowing lines of the IP upper surface mimic the overall feel of the exterior. The center HVAC vents are enhanced by a chrome vein that runs the length of the car. The center stack stands upright and is oriented toward the driver, giving an overall cockpit like feel. The electronic shift mechanism allows for a convenient lower storage bin and gives a sense of airiness to the cockpit. The four spoke steering wheel, again, follows some of the form language of the exterior and includes twin touch pad controls for the media and driver information systems. The digital gauges are once again located under a hood, high atop the IP surface and feature all necessary driver information.

In-Depth Design Dissection

Exterior Front

1. Defined corner directs airflow away from front surfaces.
2. Carefully sculpted surface directs airflow up and over the front wheel.
3. A-pillar spears into headlamp creating an aerodynamically sculpted boomerang-esque form.
4. Windshield is stepped from the A-pillar to direct airflow over the roof of the car.
5. Channels on roof center airflow as it travels over the car.
6. Shoulder mounted rear-view mirror prevents turbulence around the base of the A-pillar.
7. Feature line’s undercut surface directs airflow across the otherwise stiff bodyside.
8. Lower surface detail helps break up the tall featureless body side as well as deflecting airflow from the wheels.
9. Wide flat-faced five-spoke wheels are designed to minimize turbulence around wheel housing.

Exterior Rear

1. Sharp corner at the trailing edge is designed to direct air away from the rear of the car as well as preventing air turbulence buildup.
2. Carefully designed diffuser under the rear fascia releases air from underneath the car.
3. Door handle pockets aerodynamically surfaced to ease the flow of air around these turbulent areas.
4. LED tail lamps follow the curvature of the rear and lead into the rear decklid surfacing.
5. The upper peak of the hatch and the undercut of the rear surface meet in sharp peak for a clean release of airflow.
6. The overall height of the roof is the same as the previous model, but the peak has been moved 3.9 inches toward the rear.
7. Daylight opening retains a familiar design motif from the previous model and allows for maximum visibility.

Interior

1. An off-center, driver oriented multi-function information display provides important information to the driver including, but not limited to; speed, fuel and energy consumption.
2. Horizontal lines across the IP visually enhance the size of the otherwise small Prius.
3. Dual glovebox provides additional storage space.
4. Driver oriented center stack gives a sporty feel to an otherwise un-sporty ca.r
5. Drive-by-wire electronic shifter is set on top of a sunken Volvo-esque spaceball.
6. Front quarter windows add to the airiness of the cabin and eliminate the blindspot created by the shoulder mounted rear-view mirrors.
7. New four-spoke steering wheel features touch sensor controls and sweeping lower spokes that eschew exterior styling elements.
8. While not new to the 2010 Prius, the Power engine-start button adds to the electric appliance feel of the car.

Interior

1. Innovative storage location underneath the center stack is made possible by the electric drive-by-wire shift system.
2. Upright center stack provides a sporty feeling to the otherwise sedate interior appointments.
3. Door panel design mimics the upright feeling of the center stack design.

Conclusion
The 2010 Toyota Prius continues the design tradition of the previous generation model, but does so with a little less Maytag and a little more gusto. Nearly all of the styling changes that have been made are to help the aerodynamic efficiency and carry on the tradition of the world’s number one selling hybrid vehicle.

While we've put together our top ten reveals below, there's a whole lot more else revealed here in Detroit. We've included all of them below the top ten list. So don't think this is just our editor-selected best first, then head below that to see the rest of the contenders we saw in compiling our ten for best in show on the first day.

10.) Volkswagen Bluesport Concept

The Volkswagen Bluesport concept is powered by a 180 HP turbodiesel motor mounted amidship. Despite its concept status, VW is promising fairly realistic performance. This includes a 0-60 MPH time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 140 MPH. Though not Prius-killing, the 42 MPG combined mileage (we're guessing in the European cycle) is impressive for a sports car and would surely top any known competitors.

9.) Audi Sportback Concept

Audi says this Sportback Concept presages a hatchback production model that'll arrive some time this year: the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback. The Audi Sportback Concept is also relevant for its design language. Check out the sexy LED strip headlamps — expect to see something similar on future production models — and the new interior, that's warmer and more luxurious then attractive but severe Audis of old.

8.) Subaru Legacy Concept

The aggressive look walks away from the Legacy's current sleeper status and the crazy-shiny paint job doesn't help dissuade that. Inside it looks like the Legacy Concept is loaded up with tech with integrated head rest monitors and a huge all-LCD wide screen rear view monitor instead of a mirror. Tech for tech's sake, if you ask us.

7.) Chrysler 200C EV Concept

Chrysler revealed a shockingly attractive electric mid-size sedan concept today here in Detroit. However, we still worry about their ability to turn these concepts into reality.

6.) 2009 Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

The SLR Stirling Moss acts as the finale for the SLR nameplate, and a tribute to one of histories greatest race car drivers. To do that, McLaren chopped the driving experience down to its rawest form — you sit in a carbon fiber chassis, completely exposed to the elements, at one with the wind and the bugs in your face, breathing in the smell of the side-exit exhaust pounding from the 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8.

5.) 2010 Ford Shelby GT500

The 2010 Shelby GT500 receives the redesigned bodywork of the 2010 Mustang, but has managed to slip out of the doors with a new set of headlamps (HID optional) and a new, deeply sculpted front fascia with a larger upper grille. The Cobra badge has switched sides, but still plays for the same team; moved due to a cold-air intake system that is feed through an opening on the right side of the upper grille. A new power domed hood features heat extractors on its leading edge.

4.) Audi R8 5.2 FSI

Audi took the wraps off the 517 HP R8 V10 here in Detroit. The red-hot R8 can do a 0-to-60 in 3.9 seconds, hit nearly 200 MPH and looks damn good in red. Over the 4.2-liter V8 R8, the V10 makes 105 more Hp, uses different air intakes and a different rear feature. Crucially, it also develops 395 Lb-Ft of torque, 78 more than the v8.

3.) Cadillac Converj Concept

The Cadillac Converj Concept takes advantage of GM's freshly renamed "Voltec" power system, previously referred to as E-Flex. The new Converj combines Volt power with Cadillac style, utilizing every design element we come to expect from Caddy. It gets a much more forward design than last years Cadillac CTS coupe but balances things out with a fastback style. Inside are cool blue accents over a white leather everything. Complete details below.

2.) Lexus HS 250h

The Lexus HS 250h will offer the economy of the 2010 Toyota Prius in a more stylish, and more expensive package. The much-rumored hybrid-only from Lexus, despite its redundant name, elevates the company's popular Prius platform to a place the company hopes will broaden its appeal. Specifically, Toyota is aiming at a segment who may already have purchased a Prius, or considered purchasing one, but could afford paying more for one.

1.) 2010 Ford Taurus

The new Taurus boasts a completely new platform borrowed from the Lincoln MKS, impressive levels of available equipment, and styling that actually reflects some "Bold Moves" on Ford's part. The D-Segment Taurus gets a hybridization of Kinetic Design language from Europed and elements borrowed from the Fusion.

The unexpected reveal of the 2010 Toyota Camry and 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show has left many of us speechless. Speechless as in, we weren't really that surprised to see the next version of the number one selling car in America. The 2010 Camry is expected to go on sale in March.

Toyota Introduces 2010 Camry at the 2009 North American International Auto Show
DETROIT, January 11, 2009 - - The 2010 Camry is on display for the first time today at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). As the best-selling passenger car in America for seven years running and 11 of the past 12 years, Camry continues to redefine standards for comfort and performance.

The 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid scheduled to go on sale in March, have an array of enhancements, inside and out, including exterior styling, performance, safety, audio and convenience features.

Camry also has an upgraded standard powertrain for 2010. A new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) will produce 169 hp for Camry, LE and XLE grades. For sporty performance, SE grade get additional tuning and gets 179 horsepower, 21 more horsepower than the previous four-cylinder engine. The new engine can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift. A powerful 3.5-liter V6 delivering 268 horsepower is also available.

Exterior changes to the gas model Camry include a newly designed grille and front bumper, an enlarged lower intake, larger projector headlamps and restyled tail lamps. The Camry and LE grades feature restyled standard wheel covers. The XLE grade will run on new 16-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, while the SE grade adds new 17-inch sporty alloy wheels.

The Camry Hybrid exterior enhancements will include a unique hybrid grille, a distinct front bumper, a wider lower intake, restyled fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Camry Hybrid, equipped with Toyota's industry-leading Hybrid Synergy Drive, certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) is just one of a handful of cars that meets this strict standard, producing over 70 percent less smog-forming emissions than the average new car.

Inside, Camry and LE grades are available with an optional audio system equipped with a new USB port for auxiliary music sources, Bluetooth®, integrated satellite radio, single-CD, and MP3 and streaming music capability. Previously an option, all Camry gas models will now be equipped with Vehicle Stability Control with traction control. Auto up/down power windows with jam protection on all four doors is standard equipment. Camry Hybrid adds a newly designed meter cluster and Fraichir, a combination of silk protein and synthetic fiber, cloth seating surfaces that are gentle to the skin.

Pricing for the 2010 Camry will be announced shortly before it goes on sale this March.

Your eyes are not deceiving you, the Toyota FT-EV Concept is a version of the Toyota iQ, but lacking 1.5 seats and adding one lithium-ion battery pack in their place. While sized for Stuart Little, it'll likely be a huge success when a production version is launched in 2012.

EV Concept Confirms Battery-Electric Vehicle in 2012; First of 150 Plug-ins Arrive Late ‘09 to Lease-Fleet Customers; As Many As 10 New Gas-Electric Hybrids by early 2010s

Detroit, January 10, 2009 - - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it will display the Toyota FT-EV concept on opening Media Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), confirming its plan to launch an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2012. This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota’s intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development.

“Now, more than ever, while we are so focused on the pressing issues of the moment, we cannot lose sight of our future,” said Irv Miller, TMS Group Vice President, Environmental and Public Affairs. “Nowhere is this more important than with our industry’s duty and commitment to provide true sustainable mobility with vehicles that significantly reduce fuel consumption, our carbon footprint and overall greenhouse gases.”

The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image.

Toyota’s FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies.

“Last summer’s four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline was no anomaly. It was a brief glimpse of our future,” said Miller. “We must address the inevitability of peak oil by developing vehicles powered by alternatives to liquid-oil fuel, as well as new concepts, like the iQ, that are lighter in weight and smaller in size. This kind of vehicle, electrified or not, is where our industry must focus its creativity.”

Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota’s sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, is considered Toyota’s long-term core powertrain technology.

Last year, Toyota announced that it planned to sell one million gas-electric hybrids per year sometime during the early 2010s. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by the early 2010s, in various global markets. The new third-generation Toyota Prius and all new Lexus HS250h, both debuting in Detroit, are the first two examples of that effort.

Also, last year, Toyota announced that it would roll-out a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to global lease-fleet customers in 2010. That schedule has been moved up.

Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius PHVs powered by lithium-ion batteries. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers.

The first-generation lithium-ion batteries powering these PHVs will be built on an assembly line at Toyota’s PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company, LTD)
battery plant, a joint-venture production facility in which Toyota owns 60 percent equity. During its development, the new Prius was designed and engineered to package either the lithium-ion battery pack with plug-in capability, or the nickel-metal hydride battery for the conventional gas-electric system.

The 500 PHVs arriving globally in late 2009 will be used for market and engineering analysis. Lease–fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process.

“Future customers will have high expectations for these emerging technologies. This Prius PHV fleet program is a key first step in confirming how and when we might bring large numbers of plug-in hybrids to global markets,” said Miller.

“Our business is no longer about simply building and selling cars and trucks. It is about finding solutions to mobility challenges today and being prepared for more daunting challenges in our very near future.”

The Maserati Quattroporte is the original big-boys sedan, one providing both performance and comfort all wrapped in a beautiful Italian body. In order to keep up with the competition, Maser has released the Quattroporte Sport GT S, a new sportier 433 HP model, just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their first Indianapolis 500 win. This 4-door executive sedan will run 0-60 in less than 5.5 seconds and will do so in much higher style than those other executive sedans.

MASERATI UNVEILS NEW QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT S
on the 70th anniversary of its first Indianapolis 500 win

The sportiest to-date model of the new Quattroporte range makes its worldwide debut at NAIAS. Focus is on Maserati’s unique racing DNA, with two 2008 International FIA GT titles
clinched by the MC12 and a special anniversary celebration: the 70th anniversary of Maserati’s first of two consecutive triumphs at Indy.

The New Quattroporte Sport GT S Debuts in Detroit

The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S making its worldwide première at the 2009 North American International Auto Show sets yet another milestone in terms of sportiness in the high performance luxury sedan segment of the automotive market. Conceived and developed as “a real driving machine in the guise of a luxury sedan”, the Quattroporte Sport GT S is the ultimate expression of Maserati’s sportiness in the Quattroporte range.

The technical changes to the new Quattroporte Sport GT S concern four areas:

• the mapping of the V8 4.7 litre engine, with power increased to 323kW;
• the gearshift management software, with new features designed to increase driving enjoyment;
• the front and rear suspension system featuring single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height;
• the sport exhaust controlled by pneumatic valves for a deep, throaty and captivating sound.

The sportier and more aggressive look is evident in the interior’s and exterior’s stylistic choices:

• the new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, typical of the sportier versions of Maserati models;
• the new headlights, in metallic titanium finish;
• the new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara® and leather upholstery;
• the standard trim in Titantex, a “titanium coloured” composite material.

Maserati Racing Legacy

In 1939 and 1940, long before any foreign brands were established in the United States, Maserati took the chequered flag at perhaps the world's most famous race, the Indianapolis 500. That car was a Modena-made 8CTF single-seater bearing the flamboyant name of “Boyle Special”, driven by Wilbur Shaw. Today, to mark the 70th anniversary of Maserati’s first win at Indianapolis, the Boyle Special is on display at Maserati’s exhibit at the 2009 NAIAS as a direct link to the newest and sportiest of its products: the new Quattroporte Sport GT S.

The racetrack is where the name Maserati first became enduring and where we today continue to draw our central philosophy: a well balanced car capable of great feedback to the driver. The racetrack also continues to be the stage where Maserati collects international trophies in steady succession – with both Drivers’ and Teams’ FIA GT titles clinched in 2008 by Maserati’s MC12 to make 10 the total of FIA international titles the Maserati V12 GT car has collected over the last four racing seasons, primarily courtesy of drivers Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels (champions in 2006 and 2008) and of the Vitaphone Racing Team (four consecutive titles from 2005 through 2008).

In the course of the 2008 racing season Maserati clinched the third win in four years at the legendary 24-Hours of Spa race, placing three MC12s in the first four positions of the final standing. The triumph in Belgium is the ultimate evidence of Maserati’s reliability that originates on the racetrack but translates into the quality and consistency of Maserati’s entire product range.

The 10 international trophies collected in the FIA GT championship since 2005 at the wheel of a Maserati MC12 are:

• 2 Manufacturers’ Cup in 2005 and 2007;
• 3 Drivers’ titles (Bertolini-Bartels in 2006, Thomas Biagi in 2007, Bertolini-Bartels in 2008);
• 4 Teams’ titles (since 2005 with no interruption, always with the Vitaphone Racing Team);
• 1 Citation Cup in 2007 with the gentleman driver Ben Aucott.

MC Sport Line Customisation Programme

Focusing on its racing vocation and fresh from its latest international triumph in the FIA GT championship, Maserati has developed a special series of new options named “MC Sport Line”, which made its worldwide debut at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy in early December. The new contents of the MC Sport Line add to Maserati’s already extensive range of personalised features on offer. The MC Sport Line is designed to enhance the sporty DNA of Maserati vehicles for those customers who like to display their passion for racing through a dynamic look and a choice of technical solutions that increase the driving fun without compromise.

The name “MC Sport Line” sums up the experience acquired on the track by the Maserati Corse department, whose contribution to the design of the functional components has been invaluable. The world of motor racing also inspired Maserati’s designers when it came to styling, hence the extensive use of carbon fibre, very popular among racing enthusiasts thanks to its direct connection with racing competitions.

Maserati and the Environment

Maserati has implemented a development plan for the next 5 years designed to reduce consumption and CO2 emissions, and to protect the environment.

The designs of recent models have already led to considerable fuel savings. From 2005 onwards, consumption for the Quattroporte has been reduced by more than 20% overall (NEDC combined cycle). The CO2 reduction compared to the previous Gran Sport model is 10% for the GranTurismo S (NEDC extra-urban cycle).

On the new Quattroporte S with its 4.7 engine, exhaust/evap emissions and fuel consumption have been aligned with future Euro 5 regulations for Europe and LEV2 standards for the USA, partly thanks to the adoption of an innovative metallic matrix catalyser with perforated sheets (Turbulent PE Catalyst), which is both permeable and reliable but does not affect performance. The use of this solution has evened out the distribution of pollutant particles, reduced pressure, improved resistance to high temperatures and the transfer of gases.

Maserati also uses environmentally-friendly, easily recyclable materials made from natural substances, especially for the parts of the interior, which are most in contact with the driver and passengers (natural textile fibres, wood and leather).

Maserati cars are mindful of the “design for recycling” concept, which is centred around making cars easy to dismantle at the end of their working lives, so that materials can be identified and separated for re-use.

2008 Facts and Figures

By all degrees, Maserati’s 2008 was the most successful year to date.

In the course of the year, a new product range was introduced – the new Quattroporte line-up with both 4.2 litre and 4.7 litre models. And new to the market was also a new engine solution for the GranTurismo model-line, thus enriched in 2008 by the arrival of the 4.7 litre GranTurismo S.

Despite the dreadful economic situation witnessed by all sectors of the world economy and the profound situation of crisis that has pervaded the automotive market from the beginning of the year, Maserati has achieved in 2008 the second record year in a row. Deliveries to the final customers have totalled almost 8,600 units, which is the all-time best result, with an increase of almost 17% over 2007. What is more, Maserati’s sales were up in all markets across the world – including the United States of America.

Despite the troubled times experienced by the US economy, North America (US and Canada) remains Maserati’s largest market worldwide. The order in which the other markets follow is both familiar and consolidated, as to state that, despite all the hardships, Maserati’s presence in these markets is an established one: Italy is in second place, the United Kingdom in third, Germany in fourth, Japan in fifth. Five markets, three continents for a truly global Maserati presence. In sixth place there is France, followed by Switzerland, China, Australia, UAE, Hong Kong.

In the first nine months, Maserati’s revenues amounted to €596 million, up 22.9% compared to the same period of the previous year. There was a 25% increase in deliveries to the network compared to the first 9 months of 2007, and this performance is even more significant considering that the target markets for Maserati vehicles shrank by about 15%.

In the first nine months of 2008, the result of ordinary activities was €31 million, with a 5.2% ratio to income – a significant increase on the €6 million (1.2% of revenues) achieved during the same period last year.

The new SRX abandons the tall wagon profile of its predecessor in favor a more traditional crossover SUV shape, and comes to the table with a set of direct injection engines, an upgraded all wheel drive system and a six speed automatic transmission. The SRX rests on a version of GM's Theta platform but wears classier duds inside and out, carrying over the latest iteration of the "Art & Science" design theme and bringing quite a bit of luxury to the interior with excellent leather seats, wood trim, a hand cut leather dash and tech goodies like keyless start, backup camera playing on the navigation screen, Bluetooth, Onstar with turn-by-turn directions and more.
We've dropped the details for the previous press release below, so bask in the glory of a better car that envirodorks will complain about because it's a dirty SUV (that customers asked for).

2010 CADILLAC SRX: A DISTINCTIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR TODAY’S LUXURY CROSSOVER CONSUMER

DETROIT – Cadillac unveiled the next-generation 2010 SRX Crossover today, featuring a completely new design and more-efficient, high-technology engine choices. The new SRX is a mid-size luxury crossover coming to the North American International Auto Show next week.

“The all-new SRX is a fresh and compelling crossover aimed squarely at the priorities of luxury buyers,” said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. “With new technologies for increased efficiency and safety, the redesigned 2010 SRX Crossover focuses on both the emotional and pragmatic sides of the luxury consumer.”

The 2010 SRX is designed for efficient performance, including the choice of two high-tech six-cylinder engines that are new to Cadillac – the smallest-displacement engines it offers in North America. A new, 3.0L direct injected V-6 engine is standard and a new, 2.8L turbocharged V-6 is optional. Both engines employ technology that helps produce strong performance that is typical of larger-displacement engines. Direct injection enables a 25-percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions. Fuel economy in the mid-20s on the highway is expected, but testing isn’t complete.

Performance and safety are enhanced by an available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that is designed to optimize vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions. The AWD system includes an advanced electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) that distributes torque as needed from side to side along the rear axle, as well as from the front to rear axle. The pre-emptive, active-on-demand system provides an extra measure of capability in wet or icy conditions.

The 2010 SRX rides on a wide track that was designed to deliver a nimble, responsive driving experience. It seats five, with generous occupant and cargo room, and can tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg).

Distinctive design and craftsmanship

“Cadillac is known for bold design. The 2010 SRX Crossover builds on that reputation,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac global design director. “As with the 2008 CTS, we advanced our Art and Science design to create a crossover for style-conscious customers. The exterior features a dramatic diving gesture on the body side to impart the feeling of movement, even at rest.”

A multi-piece shield grille and Cadillac’s iconic vertical headlamps – with light pipe technology and available adaptive forward lighting – are the face of the SRX. They blend into a tightly wrapped, sweeping body that tapers downward at the rear, giving the vehicle a sporty profile, Dean said.

The SRX features a wide stance, minimal overhang and wheels pushed to corners. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are offered. A bold accent line dives across the body side and culminates at a chrome front fender vent that incorporates a side marker lamp. An integrated spoiler on the rearward edge of the roof extends the sleek lines and improves aerodynamics.

“Inside the new SRX, technical precision blends with old-world craftsmanship,” Dean said. “Hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel and ambient lighting details convey a finely tailored cabin.”

An integrated center stack houses controls for climate and audio systems, while the navigation system rises from the center of the instrument panel. A signature example of the SRX’s attention to detail is the Cadillac script logos in the front door sill plates that illuminate when the doors are opened.

Advanced technology and entertainment systems

The 2010 SRX features numerous advanced electronic systems. Highlights include a “pop-up” navigation screen with three-dimensional imaging; adaptive forward lighting that swivels the headlamps in synch with vehicle steering; power liftgate with adjustable height setting; integrated hard disc drive for audio storage and a dual-screen system for rear entertainment.

Bluetooth compatibility is standard, as is OnStar’s turn-by-turn navigation service for buyers who do not select the car’s navigation system option.

Efficient performance

The SRX is powered by a new, fuel-efficient direct injected 3.0L V-6 that delivers an estimated 260 horsepower (193 kW) and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Direct injection results in more power, better fuel economy and lower emissions, all will a smaller-displacement package. As a result, the new V-6 engine is expected to raise the SRX’s standard power rating by 5 horsepower, while achieving an estimated 10-15-percent fuel economy improvement.

The 3.0L direct injection V-6 is a smaller-displacement version of the 3.6L, direct injection engine featured in the CTS sport sedan and named one of the world’s 10 Best Engines for 2009 by Ward’s Automotive. Along with direct injection technology, the 3.0L engine employs variable valve timing to optimize power and fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

The Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission helps save fuel by lowering the engine’s rpm at constant highway speeds, while manual shift control enables greater driver interaction when desired. The new SRX includes a driver-selectable “eco mode” that alters transmission shift points to maximize fuel economy.

“The 2010 SRX will deliver excellent, balanced driving dynamics in all types of weather,” said Bob Reuter, global vehicle chief engineer. “The all-wheel-drive system with electronic limited slip effectively transfers torque not only from front to rear, but also along the rear axle. This system sets a new benchmark for all all-wheel-drive systems, giving the driver control and confidence on any road surface.”

Traction control is taken a step further on AWD models with the rear eLSD. In icy or wet conditions, the system can transfer up to 100 percent of torque to the wheel that has more grip. The eLSD also gives the driver enhanced control when cornering hard or completing a high-speed maneuver, such as a lane change, by momentarily applying more or less torque to either of the wheels to help the rear of the vehicle more closely follow the direction of the front wheels.

The suspension includes a real-time damping system in conjunction with AWD that adjusts shock damping rates in response to road conditions for a smooth ride quality.

Enhanced safety

SRX’s safety features are designed to protect occupants before, during and after a crash. A strong body structure and chassis that absorbs crash energy is complemented by the use of martensitic steel in the fully enclosed rocker sections. Martensitic steel is one of the strongest available and its use in the rockers helps protect against intrusion during a side-impact crash, while also maintaining the structure during front and rear crashes.

Additional safety features include standard head curtain side air bags, standard front seat-mounted pelvic/thorax side air bags, front safety belts with dual pretensioners and load limiters, rollover mitigation sensors, a pedal release system, trailer stability assist and OnStar.

The SRX was also designed to meet European pedestrian protection standards; and the front bumper is positioned for greater compatibility with car bumpers.

Production begins in the second quarter of 2009, with dealer availability shortly thereafter.

The Kia Soul'Ster is a nice looking, but ultimately useless concept car based on the well designed and totally functional four-door, segment-bending Kia Soul. Think of it as a smaller, front wheel drive, urban version of the Jeep Wrangler. The Soul'Ster gets the camino-treatment as the rear doors and roof are chopped off and a slanted roll top fabric roof with extremely limited head room. The styling is very common with the Soul, but the characteristics have been stretched or pinched for a more aggressive look with the concept.

It does get a set of rear seats which are cantilevered from the center console and a funky-fresh interior treatment the interior kids will like. It comes complete with all of todays expected in-car distractions like A set of beefier tires mounted on fancy one-off wheels finishes things off and squarely puts it into the California scenester target demo. They served us fish tacos and Corona after the press event was over, if that's any indication of where this concept is aimed at. Despite all that, what we have here is essentially a shrunken version of your friends old Ford Bronco with less space and none of the capabilities.

KIA MOTORS AMERICA SHOWCASES THE SOUL’STER CONCEPT AT
2009 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
Open-Air Concept Heats Up the Show

Distinctive design portrays style, practicality and efficiency
Kia Motors America design team delivers another high-style concept

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2009 – Bringing a sunny beach feeling into Cobo Center on a cold day in January, Kia Motors America (KMA) arrives at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with the Soul’ster open-air concept, a variation of the highly anticipated Soul, arriving at Kia Motors retailers this spring. With young buyers’ budgets in mind, the Soul’ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the production model Soul, recently introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
“Soul’ster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today’s buyers – a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, KMA. “Defying categorization and providing utility and practicality, the Soul’ster exhibits distinctive design cues and satisfies multiple consumer needs.”

Stylin’ Soul’r Yellow Design
A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul’r yellow Soul’ster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet. The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance. A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.

With a unique face, Soul’ster has a tough but refined character. The toughness is expressed through details like the anodized skid-pad insert, which matches the fender vents, roll bar header and wheels.

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Soul’ster’s attitude incorporates lighting that shines through with an amber glow under the headlamps. The side vents, side-mirror turn signals, unique LED headlamps, fog and tail lamps incorporate blue shades.

The energetic, distinctive look carries from front to rear with dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fiber interior sleeves. The large 19-inch, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels perfect the Soul’ster’s appearance. Regardless of Soul’ster being viewed from front, back or side, it offers innovative perspectives derived from the original Soul.

Inside Out
Once inside, Soul’ster takes even more progressive variations from Soul beginning with the new four-passenger seating design, a diversion from Soul’s five-passenger arrangement, lending spacious versatility for long summer weekends. The surprisingly flexible Soul’ster provides real seating for two in the front with comfortable seating for two more adults in the back. Fold-flat passenger and rear seats combined with ample headroom make this the perfect car for social outings outdoors and on the beach with friends. Making basic features hot, its crank-up windows are a purposefully key interior design element as are the dashboard-integrated audio speakers.

Adding to the edgy design scheme, the non-floor-mounted cantilevered seats project the illusion of being suspended in space when viewed from the side allowing for increased rear legroom. Storage compartments below each of the fold-flat rear seats, offer room for myriad cargo needs. In addition to the spacious cargo area, dual storage compartments also can be found in the rear and underneath the cargo hold area.

All Revved Up
With young buyers in mind, Soul’ster offers an agile, smooth and spirited ride. As with its Soul cousin, Soul’ster’s can be made available with a myriad of engine choices depending upon each market’s needs. A 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which produces approximately 120 horsepower. For those looking for a little more power, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, producing approximately 140 horsepower. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more miles per gallon. Other markets might choose the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 124 horsepower or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel.
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2009 Product Line
Kia Motors America offers a dynamic and diverse product line of 11 vehicles to meet the needs of all lifestyles. The 2009 vehicle line features the functional Rondo CUV and award-winning Sedona minivan along with a wide variety of popular passenger cars, including the refined Amanti full size sedan, purposeful Optima mid size sedan, versatile and compact Spectra and Spectra5, and sporty yet fuel efficient Rio and Rio5 subcompacts. The vehicle line also features the all-new and affordably luxurious Borrego, rugged Sorento and value-packed Sportage SUVs. The Soul will further complement the lineup when it arrives in dealerships this spring.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. marketshare. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

Kia Motors America is the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

The new Taurus boasts a completely new platform borrowed from the Lincoln MKS, impressive levels of available equipment, and styling that actually reflects some "Bold Moves" on Ford's part. The D-Segment Taurus gets a hybridization of Kinetic Design language from Europed and elements borrowed from the Fusion.

With hardware like a six speed automatic transmission with available Select Shift, optional all wheel drive, a 3.5 liter V6 good for 263 HP and 249 lb-ft of torque, it won't be burning the strip down, but it will be very competitive at the segments it's aiming for.

Technological wizardry abounds with features like the Ford Park Assist system, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, voice activated nav-system complete, the available Sync software platform and Sirius Travelink, rear-view backup camera and Sony-branded audio. That's just to name a few.
There will be much more to write about the 2010 Ford Taurus, it's a very serious car for a very serious time in the American automotive market. We look forward to getting our hands on one as soon as possible.

Upscale, Tech-Savvy New Taurus Flagship Delivers Style, Substance For Full-size Sedan Buyers In 2010

* Athletic, upscale new 2010 Ford Taurus confidently leads a growing wave of new-car introductions from Ford Motor Company. Available this summer, this distinctive new vehicle combines class-leading technologies with confident, engaging driving dynamics
* Taurus features an impressive set of standard and available technologies that add convenience, connectivity, safety and value for customers. They include Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKey™ parental programmability, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rain-Sensing Wipers, EasyFuel™ capless refueling, Ford SYNC® and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel Link™
* The new Taurus is powered by the award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine, mated to one of two available fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmissions including SelectShift® with shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel and available all-wheel drive

DETROIT, Jan.11, 2009 – The Ford Taurus – the car that changed America’s view of full-size sedans – is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world’s best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag.

“The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford’s growing new car launch momentum,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for – and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering – quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design.”

The new Taurus benefits from Ford’s Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner – with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible.

“Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. “Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule.”

Even better news? The new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 – the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals premium luxury sedans.

“The new Taurus showcases the what the Ford brand promise is – expressive design, class-leading technologies and an engaging driving experience,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Marketing and Communications. “To truly appreciate the new Taurus, you have to drive it. All of the experiences come together once you’re behind the wheel.”

New times, new design

“Lightning can strike twice,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design for The Americas. “Like the 1986 original, the new 2010 Taurus differentiates by combining style with substance.”

The shift starts with the vision for Taurus itself. It debuted as a family sedan, but with the advent of crossovers, the new Taurus is aimed more at drivers who might move friends and family but place more of a premium on the driving experience and technologies aimed at making time on the road more meaningful and fun.

“Taurus is more of a ‘me’ sedan now, and we’ve delivered with this buyer in mind,” said Moray Callum, director of Ford’s Car and Crossover Design.

Exterior design details are more sculpted and powerful – from the powerdome that speaks to the strength behind its confident grille to the pronounced fenders and fascia.

Bold new headlights combined with recessed parking lamps frame a new expression of the signature Ford three-bar grille – and the lowered roofline helps make the new Taurus more aspirational.

New wheels, from 17- to 20-inches in diameter, fill the sculpted wheel wells and lend Taurus a muscular and athletic stance. The raised shoulder lines of the new Taurus provide a confident profile and enable generous truck capacity.

The exterior color palette for the 2010 Taurus includes new hues, selected to harmonize with interior appointments and offer customers a broader range of color combinations. New colors include Candy Red Metallic Tint, White Platinum Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Gold Leaf Metallic and Ingot Silver Metallic.

Inside, a forward-leaning center stack – home to the climate controls, audio components and available navigation screen – flows in a continuous unbroken form through the instrument panel and down into the center console. The smart design allows for the interior to be formed with unbroken lines to impart seamless quality and craftsmanship.

The door panels employ an innovative urethane tooling process providing unique texture and identity to surfaces, with visible stitching and a hand crafted appeal. This same process allows for door panel two-toning, enabling model series differentiation.

The new Taurus’ precision craftsmanship is reflected in the quality of materials used in the interior as well as the exterior panel margins, which are comparable to costly German luxury sedans.

Better on-road performance, too

To match its more athletic looks, the new Taurus features sportier driving dynamics.

The 2010 Taurus comes standard with Ford’s proven Duratec 3.5-liter V-6, generating an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. This award-winning engine earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions.

The smooth and refined Duratec V-6 helps the front-wheel-drive Taurus deliver unsurpassed highway fuel economy. Taurus reflects Ford’s commitment to deliver the best, or be among the leaders, in fuel economy across the vehicle segments where it competes.

Taurus fuel economy is aided by employment of a two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off technology.

The Taurus engine plan also calls for optional availability of Ford’s advanced EcoBoost™ 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability coming soon.

The Taurus SE offers a six-speed automatic transmission with a Grade-Assist hill-holding rollback prevention feature, paired with an economical 2.77 final drive ratio.

SEL and Limited series Taurus models are offered with SelectShift®, featuring racing-inspired shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel. SelectShift offers the convenience of conventional automatic operation, or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection. The SelectShift transmission enables “match-rev” downshifts and will hold manually selected gears, unlike some competitive transmissions that second-guess the driver.

The SEL is offered with a 2.77 final drive ratio, while the Limited series uses a 3.16 gear in front-wheel-drive models, and a 3.39 ratio in all-wheel-drive models to provide enhanced acceleration.

Chassis and suspension components are tuned to deliver on the sporty and aggressive design with optimized roll stiffness for cornering control, responsive steering with sharp turn-in and precision accuracy. This chassis tuning of the MacPherson front struts and multi-link rear suspension reflects Ford Global DNA, defined by responsive steering and handling, while maintaining a comfortable ride quality.

The 2010 Taurus features a new SR1 suspension configuration.

Named for its “one-to-one” rear shock absorber ratio, it provides a superior balance between cornering and handling while providing a stable baseline for fine tuning. The new SR1 enables the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels – and reduces vehicle weight, saving fuel.

“While driver engagement was a key objective for the new Taurus, we also put huge emphasis on creating a quiet environment,” said Chief Engineer Pete Reyes. “Wind tunnel development time was important to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, but it also helped with fuel economy.

Customer-focused technologies

Tech-savvy customers will find plenty to like about the new 2010 Taurus. Its technologies enable customer connectivity, while fulfilling desires for personalization, customization and control. This comprehensive list of features isn’t just technology for the sake of technology. These offerings have been selected and developed to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience for the driver and all passengers. Extensive work has also been done to ensure that these technologies are easy to understand and intuitive to operate.

Adaptive Cruise Control allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

Adaptive Cruise Control also integrates Collision Warning with Brake Support, a new active safety feature.

The collision warning system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead. The system also pre-charges the brakes and engages an electronic brake assist to help the driver stop more quickly.

Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, a new Taurus feature, allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by simply carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.

SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver’s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver’s side B-pillar.

MyKey™ allows parents or fleet administrators to activate a restricted driving mode.

When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning. Additional programmability includes restrictions on audio volume, limiting top speed to 80 mph and speed chime warnings at 45, 55, or 65mph.

Auto High Beams/Rain-Sensing Wipers harness sensor technologies to switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected, in a range of up to 500 feet for taillight detection, and up to 2,000 feet for oncoming headlight detection. Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed.

Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System is an industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror.

Cross Traffic Alert uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.

Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist™ will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.

Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ uses an 8-inch screen to present a birds-eye-view map with 3D landmarks. The system responds to voice commands for destination programming and route selection.

In addition, it provides enhanced route guidance features such as street name announcements and detailed freeway exit, turn and ramp position lane guidance. The screen can be personalized with up to 32 pictures, sized up to 1.5MB. The system also incorporates the SIRIUS Travel Link, offering availability of current weather and ski conditions, a five-day forecast, local fuel pricing by cost per gallon as well as brand, sports scores and movie listings.

Sony® branded audio components deliver sound from a variety of sources, with an AM-FM tuner, SIRIUS Satellite radio, CD, DVD audio and an integrated 10 GB hard drive for storage of up to 2,400 songs. This package also includes an available 10-speaker premium audio system.

Multi-Contour Seats are available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, integrating a six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion.

This provides minute but continuous movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain.

“Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble,” said Steve Michell, product design engineer. “The key is their subtlety. Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.”

Safety leadership grows

The new 2010 Taurus builds on its legacy of safety leadership, incorporating a comprehensive array of passive and active features engineered to protect and preserve its passengers.

“A stiffer body structure and new crash avoidance technologies make the Taurus – already named the safest full-size sedan – even safer,” said Reyes, chief engineer.

Taurus safety begins with a body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing front structure features octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and “shotgun” front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

The Taurus body structure features ultra high-strength boron steel in the B-pillar for added side impact protection.

The new Taurus is equipped with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy®, a Ford exclusive protection system that features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.

Other key safety features include:

Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE™) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle. In the event of a side impact, the beam helps divert crash forces away from the occupants. A strong roof cross member and side impact door beams work with the floor-mounted tube to further improve side impact protection.

Personal Safety System® is designed to reduce the risk of injury to the driver and front seat passenger in the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision. Sensors note right front occupant weight, safety belt usage, outboard seat belt tension and seating position to optimize air bag deployment force for occupant safety.

AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control predicts the vehicle’s intended path, using sensors to detect and measure oversteer and yaw, while continuously monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses a loss of wheel traction, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied in conjunction with the standard Anti-lock Braking (ABS) system. The system also incorporates traction control to aid drivers when operating the vehicle on loose or slippery surfaces.

SOS Post-Crash Alert is an integrated system that automatically unlocks the doors, sounds the horn and activates the emergency flashers in the event of an air bag deployment.

“Customers will find a lot to love about the new Taurus,” Fields said.

The 2010 Ford Taurus will be built at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be available in dealer showrooms in the summer.

[Source: Ford]

As we mentioned last night, the Circuit EV is basically a Lotus Europa with some body work and the mysterious Chrysler EV pack. The similarity, especially given the small size, is undeniable up close. We'll get into the "engine bay" if it isn't glued shut.

Johnson Controls RE3 Concept was one of their famed half-car proposals for future vehicle tech and included such technogasm features as a plug-in, lithium-ion battery, hybrid drivetrain; two reconfigurable displays that allow the placement and delivery of information based on driver needs - one IP centered 7-inch and the other being a 4.3-inch cluster mounted display. A unique feature of the display system is the ability to drag and drop icons related to vehicle functions from the center display to the smaller cluster display.

You can expect to see the Johnson Controls RE3 concept on the road at about the same time as the Dodge EV, which means, probably never.

The re3 Concept from Johnson Controls Brings Together Innovative Engineering, Sustainable Solutions and Value-Added Amenities – All in a Small Car Environment DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U.S.A. (January 11, 2009) – For Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), a major goal is finding new opportunities to help its customers succeed by creating “smart” environments. In terms of vehicles, this means creating products that bring value today – reducing weight, optimizing cost and providing sustainable solutions that generate consumer appeal. With the debut of its re3 concept vehicle at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this week, Johnson Controls demonstrates its strong capabilities and latest innovations in product and process technologies targeting the growing small car segment. The re3 exemplifies a smart environment that has three key elements: re:think – shifting the paradigm of what a small car should be, enabled by innovative engineering; re:new – providing an interior based on the core principles of sustainability; and re:spond – presenting a holistic experience that generates strong consumer appeal, through a focus on human machine interaction (HMI), comfort and interior ambiance. It is on display this week at the NAIAS, as part of the Johnson Controls product and technology exhibit in room D2-15 of Cobo Center. Designers and engineers at Johnson Controls understand that the automotive market has shifted and that consumers today demand smaller cars, which are more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, without compromising features and functions. The re3 concept offers more room in less space, more amenities in a value-priced segment and more fuel-efficiency in a vehicle with an appealing personality. It features a wide range of innovations developed by Johnson Controls, including: A plug-in hybrid battery system that allows generous seating for five adults in the vehicle; New, class-leading storage capacity in the instrument panel, enabled by the company’s Ecospace technology; An “extended cluster,” which includes a traditional gauge cluster, along with a 7-inch color, touch panel display; A seat-wing armrest and controller on the driver’s seat, enabling some of the controls to be moved from the center stack to the seat; A conversational seating arrangement, offering new ways to interact in the interior, as well as Slim Seating and rear, stadium-style folding seats; and Eco-friendly, renewable materials with “natural look” finishes throughout the interior.
- more -
“Our re3 concept shows how we can redesign and improve the interior of a small vehicle to meet the needs of consumers while adding tremendous value for our customers,” said Jeff Williams, group vice president and general manager, North America for the Automotive Experience business of Johnson Controls. “People want smaller vehicles with better fuel economy, eco-friendly materials and the luxuries and utility that make the driving experience enjoyable, and the re3 is a great demonstration of our ability to help meet these needs through innovation.” To “rethink” the small car, Johnson Controls designers used a process that provides a systematic approach for optimizing value, and increasing the availability of features not usually found inside a small model, so it doesn’t feel like an economy car. The Johnson Controls team looked at the concept from a “clean sheet” perspective, made decisions about what was most appropriate, and then optimized performance. In developing the re3 concept, company designers sought to provide seating for five in a plug-in hybrid vehicle; significantly reduce mass and optimize cost; integrate many desirable interior amenities; develop the concept globally; and deliver a vehicle that is customizable to various markets around the world. The “renew” element of the re3 concept includes a lithium-ion, plug-in series battery that powers the vehicle, as well as renewable materials that are lighter in weight than conventional materials, and offer a “natural look” finish on various interior components. Energy storage was a critical factor, with the battery placed between the front seats in the center of the vehicle to maintain a low center of gravity and maximize the distance to the perimeter of the vehicle. This also allows for maximum rear cargo storage and three passengers in the rear seat by utilizing the space between the two front seats in the center tunnel. The battery system is sized to provide enough energy so that most commutes can be done on electric drive, and is designed with active cooling and electronics to maintain the optimal operating condition. Through its joint venture Johnson Controls-Saft, the company opened the world’s first production facility for lithium-ion hybrid vehicle batteries in Nersac, France in 2008. From a sustainability perspective, the re3 provides significant mass reduction, renewable materials, and smart features that enable efficiency. In the cockpit and on the door panels, surfaces are comprised of exposed natural and environmentally friendly substrate material with a fiber-wood appearance, giving the vehicle a handsome, organic feel. By eliminating the A-surface material, a 30 percent weight reduction was achieved. Also by reducing the number of plastic parts in the interior, the use of petroleum-based materials was decreased. - more -
To “respond” to consumer demand, the Johnson Controls re3 concept offers compelling HMI; redefined seating architecture; industry-leading levels of storage; and unique packaging of a lithium-ion battery – all in a small car environment. The Johnson Controls Ecospace instrument panel technology helps to make the cockpit area more spacious, with an open architecture structure that safely allows for unprecedented storage volume across the front of the instrument panel. This innovative structure is based on a hybrid (plastic/metal) construction, which generates weight and cost benefits and opportunities to integrate more functions. As a result, designers achieved a 26 percent weight reduction in the instrument panel. In the re3, the center stack controls have been eliminated, reducing the number of switches and freeing up space. The infotainment and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) functions have been reintegrated into an extended instrument cluster and a seat-wing on the driver’s seat. Integrated into the extended cluster are two reconfigurable displays that allow the placement and delivery of information based on the driver’s needs. One of the displays – with a 4.3-inch screen – is located in the center of the cluster. The other one is an outboard-mounted, high resolution, 7-inch display. Reorganizing the information shown is accomplished by a simple “touch and flick” operation, allowing the driver to manage information such as messaging, navigation, mobile commerce, vehicle diagnostics, energy consumption and vehicle / trip range. The driver-side functional seat-wing is ergonomic, providing controls that are used most often for HVAC and music management within easy reach of the driver and passenger. The enhanced HMI includes innovations such as the Johnson Controls Mobile Device Gateway with E-Bin, and Mobile Commerce with Card Reader. The Mobile Device Gateway adds convenience by linking mobile electronic devices – such as mobile phones, navigation devices or music (MP3) players – to the vehicle and allowing the driver to use the devices intuitively, safely and easily. Mobile Commerce is a product that allows consumers to securely pay for mobile purchases and services while traveling – including fuel, parking, meals, entertainment and other goods – using their credit card or mobile phone while in the vehicle. The E-Bin is a space to place mobile electronic devices in order to establish power and data connections, as well as the location for a credit-card reader. Conversational seating is another innovation inside Johnson Controls’ re3 concept. It is enabled by the company’s next generation, lightweight MS structure. The passenger front seat slides backward into the second row, facilitating a more inclusive conversation with the rear passenger, or allowing the passenger to attend to a child more easily.
- more -
The concept’s front seats include Johnson Controls’ Slim Seat technology; the riACT™ head restraint system that reduces the risk of whiplash injuries and meets safety regulations; vibration-dampening VT™ Foam produced with natural oil polyols; and “green” trim materials. The Slim Seat has a thin-profile seat back, providing the same level of comfort as a conventional vehicle seat via the Johnson Controls Comfort Shell technology. The Comfort Shell is a patented technology that enhances comfort through the use of a flexible panel in conjunction with the company’s VT Foam. In its second row, the re3 features the Johnson Controls stadium style, slim style, 60/40 flat-folding seat; and the company’s FaserTec foam pads. The re3’s overhead system is optimized and offers a 30 percent weight-reduction opportunity. It includes Johnson Controls’ C-Lab Visor, which is lighter than conventional visors and reduces cost; a headliner substrate with natural material content that is lightweight and acoustically absorbent; fabric covered, compression-formed garnish trim that weights 50 percent less than a plastic injection molded part. A Functional Film Overhead Console reduces part count and complexity. Williams says that nearly all of the Johnson Controls products and innovations included in the re3 concept are available for production now, and can be integrated into the next generation of vehicles.
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

After almost 20 years of the Taurus moniker applied off-and-on to models which have increasingly lost their way, Ford's engineers have said "enough." Make no mistake, the new Taurus is a battle cry from a more lean, more mean and more hungry Ford Motor Company. With even the most passing review of the new Taurus you can't help but take notice. Ford isn't aiming at best in class here, they're aiming at "best in world." Their words, not ours.

The Taurus shares chassis architecture with the upscale Lincoln MKS but shares none of the body work or interior. Gone is the milquetoast styling of the Five Hundred-cum-Taurus in favor of a more aggressive, confident design, borrowing elements of the European Kinetic styling language as well as elements from the Ford Interceptor concept. The resulting combination provides the presence of the Chrysler 300 with the sporty, stylish look of a European Ford Mondeo. Plus maybe a little freight train brawn mixed in for good measure.

The Taurus is being aimed at brand flagship status, and as such, delivers equipment levels not normally seen in the sub-luxury segments. In high-end trim, the car gets the recently announced Ford Park Assist system and a new system called Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, capable of warning of cars in your blind spot and of parking lot traffic approaching as you back out of a space. The interior gets the equipment overkill treatment packaged into a stylish cabin, split down the middle with a swooping center console, keyless start button included. Passengers are treated to available nicely trimmed heated and cooled perforated leather seats and heated seats at the rear. The rear seat folks even get a power rear sun shade. It's bristling with techno-gadgetry, voice activated nav-system complete with the Sync software platform and optional Sirius Travelink, rear-view backup camera and a Sony-branded audio system Ford President for the Americas Mark Fields is claiming will rival the best home-based systems. The Taurus also gets a new radar-based speed sensitive cruise control system which also pre-charges the brake system when it senses an impending collision.

Engines on the new Taurus are familiar and expected, with a baseline powertrain being the 3.5-liter V6 with 263 HP and 249 lb-ft of torque, mated to a standard 6 speed transmission (paddle shift optional) driving the front wheels with all-wheel-drive optional. The base motor is fun and all, but we're salivating over the prospect of the twin-turbocharged Ecoboost V6-equipped Taurus SHO. Wheels are controlled with a pretty standard McPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension which Ford claims to have tuned for handling as much ride.

We haven't driven the new Taurus yet, and we've only spent a few hours with it at a Ford backgrounder in Dearborn, but in our short time with the car, talking with the engineers, the stylists and the vehicle line managers, but as far as first impressions go, the new Taurus makes a damn impressive one. The level of fit and finish, styling detail, material choices and overall drama is a huge departure from the current model. The static car is so good it makes maintaining any semblance of objectivity a battle. We'll be bringing you live coverage of the unveil from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show later today.

Upscale, Tech-Savvy New Taurus Flagship Delivers Style, Substance For Full-size Sedan Buyers In 2010

* Athletic, upscale new 2010 Ford Taurus confidently leads a growing wave of new-car introductions from Ford Motor Company. Available this summer, this distinctive new vehicle combines class-leading technologies with confident, engaging driving dynamics
* Taurus features an impressive set of standard and available technologies that add convenience, connectivity, safety and value for customers. They include Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKey™ parental programmability, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rain-Sensing Wipers, EasyFuel™ capless refueling, Ford SYNC® and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel Link™
* The new Taurus is powered by the award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine, mated to one of two available fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmissions including SelectShift® with shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel and available all-wheel drive

DETROIT, Jan.11, 2009 – The Ford Taurus – the car that changed America’s view of full-size sedans – is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world’s best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag.

“The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford’s growing new car launch momentum,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for – and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering – quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design.”

The new Taurus benefits from Ford’s Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner – with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible.

“Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. “Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule.”

Even better news? The new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 – the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals premium luxury sedans.

“The new Taurus showcases the what the Ford brand promise is – expressive design, class-leading technologies and an engaging driving experience,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Marketing and Communications. “To truly appreciate the new Taurus, you have to drive it. All of the experiences come together once you’re behind the wheel.”

New times, new design

“Lightning can strike twice,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design for The Americas. “Like the 1986 original, the new 2010 Taurus differentiates by combining style with substance.”

The shift starts with the vision for Taurus itself. It debuted as a family sedan, but with the advent of crossovers, the new Taurus is aimed more at drivers who might move friends and family but place more of a premium on the driving experience and technologies aimed at making time on the road more meaningful and fun.

“Taurus is more of a ‘me’ sedan now, and we’ve delivered with this buyer in mind,” said Moray Callum, director of Ford’s Car and Crossover Design.

Exterior design details are more sculpted and powerful – from the powerdome that speaks to the strength behind its confident grille to the pronounced fenders and fascia.

Bold new headlights combined with recessed parking lamps frame a new expression of the signature Ford three-bar grille – and the lowered roofline helps make the new Taurus more aspirational.

New wheels, from 17- to 20-inches in diameter, fill the sculpted wheel wells and lend Taurus a muscular and athletic stance. The raised shoulder lines of the new Taurus provide a confident profile and enable generous truck capacity.

The exterior color palette for the 2010 Taurus includes new hues, selected to harmonize with interior appointments and offer customers a broader range of color combinations. New colors include Candy Red Metallic Tint, White Platinum Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Gold Leaf Metallic and Ingot Silver Metallic.

Inside, a forward-leaning center stack – home to the climate controls, audio components and available navigation screen – flows in a continuous unbroken form through the instrument panel and down into the center console. The smart design allows for the interior to be formed with unbroken lines to impart seamless quality and craftsmanship.

The door panels employ an innovative urethane tooling process providing unique texture and identity to surfaces, with visible stitching and a hand crafted appeal. This same process allows for door panel two-toning, enabling model series differentiation.

The new Taurus’ precision craftsmanship is reflected in the quality of materials used in the interior as well as the exterior panel margins, which are comparable to costly German luxury sedans.

Better on-road performance, too

To match its more athletic looks, the new Taurus features sportier driving dynamics.

The 2010 Taurus comes standard with Ford’s proven Duratec 3.5-liter V-6, generating an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. This award-winning engine earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions.

The smooth and refined Duratec V-6 helps the front-wheel-drive Taurus deliver unsurpassed highway fuel economy. Taurus reflects Ford’s commitment to deliver the best, or be among the leaders, in fuel economy across the vehicle segments where it competes.

Taurus fuel economy is aided by employment of a two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off technology.

The Taurus engine plan also calls for optional availability of Ford’s advanced EcoBoost™ 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability coming soon.

The Taurus SE offers a six-speed automatic transmission with a Grade-Assist hill-holding rollback prevention feature, paired with an economical 2.77 final drive ratio.

SEL and Limited series Taurus models are offered with SelectShift®, featuring racing-inspired shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel. SelectShift offers the convenience of conventional automatic operation, or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection. The SelectShift transmission enables “match-rev” downshifts and will hold manually selected gears, unlike some competitive transmissions that second-guess the driver.

The SEL is offered with a 2.77 final drive ratio, while the Limited series uses a 3.16 gear in front-wheel-drive models, and a 3.39 ratio in all-wheel-drive models to provide enhanced acceleration.

Chassis and suspension components are tuned to deliver on the sporty and aggressive design with optimized roll stiffness for cornering control, responsive steering with sharp turn-in and precision accuracy. This chassis tuning of the MacPherson front struts and multi-link rear suspension reflects Ford Global DNA, defined by responsive steering and handling, while maintaining a comfortable ride quality.

The 2010 Taurus features a new SR1 suspension configuration.

Named for its “one-to-one” rear shock absorber ratio, it provides a superior balance between cornering and handling while providing a stable baseline for fine tuning. The new SR1 enables the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels – and reduces vehicle weight, saving fuel.

“While driver engagement was a key objective for the new Taurus, we also put huge emphasis on creating a quiet environment,” said Chief Engineer Pete Reyes. “Wind tunnel development time was important to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, but it also helped with fuel economy.

Customer-focused technologies

Tech-savvy customers will find plenty to like about the new 2010 Taurus. Its technologies enable customer connectivity, while fulfilling desires for personalization, customization and control. This comprehensive list of features isn’t just technology for the sake of technology. These offerings have been selected and developed to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience for the driver and all passengers. Extensive work has also been done to ensure that these technologies are easy to understand and intuitive to operate.

Adaptive Cruise Control allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

Adaptive Cruise Control also integrates Collision Warning with Brake Support, a new active safety feature.

The collision warning system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead. The system also pre-charges the brakes and engages an electronic brake assist to help the driver stop more quickly.

Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, a new Taurus feature, allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by simply carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.

SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver’s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver’s side B-pillar.

MyKey™ allows parents or fleet administrators to activate a restricted driving mode.

When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning. Additional programmability includes restrictions on audio volume, limiting top speed to 80 mph and speed chime warnings at 45, 55, or 65mph.

Auto High Beams/Rain-Sensing Wipers harness sensor technologies to switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected, in a range of up to 500 feet for taillight detection, and up to 2,000 feet for oncoming headlight detection. Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed.

Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System is an industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror.

Cross Traffic Alert uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.

Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist™ will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.

Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ uses an 8-inch screen to present a birds-eye-view map with 3D landmarks. The system responds to voice commands for destination programming and route selection.

In addition, it provides enhanced route guidance features such as street name announcements and detailed freeway exit, turn and ramp position lane guidance. The screen can be personalized with up to 32 pictures, sized up to 1.5MB. The system also incorporates the SIRIUS Travel Link, offering availability of current weather and ski conditions, a five-day forecast, local fuel pricing by cost per gallon as well as brand, sports scores and movie listings.

Sony® branded audio components deliver sound from a variety of sources, with an AM-FM tuner, SIRIUS Satellite radio, CD, DVD audio and an integrated 10 GB hard drive for storage of up to 2,400 songs. This package also includes an available 10-speaker premium audio system.

Multi-Contour Seats are available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, integrating a six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion.

This provides minute but continuous movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain.

“Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble,” said Steve Michell, product design engineer. “The key is their subtlety. Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.”

Safety leadership grows

The new 2010 Taurus builds on its legacy of safety leadership, incorporating a comprehensive array of passive and active features engineered to protect and preserve its passengers.

“A stiffer body structure and new crash avoidance technologies make the Taurus – already named the safest full-size sedan – even safer,” said Reyes, chief engineer.

Taurus safety begins with a body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing front structure features octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and “shotgun” front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

The Taurus body structure features ultra high-strength boron steel in the B-pillar for added side impact protection.

The new Taurus is equipped with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy®, a Ford exclusive protection system that features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.

Other key safety features include:

Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE™) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle. In the event of a side impact, the beam helps divert crash forces away from the occupants. A strong roof cross member and side impact door beams work with the floor-mounted tube to further improve side impact protection.

Personal Safety System® is designed to reduce the risk of injury to the driver and front seat passenger in the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision. Sensors note right front occupant weight, safety belt usage, outboard seat belt tension and seating position to optimize air bag deployment force for occupant safety.

AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control predicts the vehicle’s intended path, using sensors to detect and measure oversteer and yaw, while continuously monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses a loss of wheel traction, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied in conjunction with the standard Anti-lock Braking (ABS) system. The system also incorporates traction control to aid drivers when operating the vehicle on loose or slippery surfaces.

SOS Post-Crash Alert is an integrated system that automatically unlocks the doors, sounds the horn and activates the emergency flashers in the event of an air bag deployment.

“Customers will find a lot to love about the new Taurus,” Fields said.

The 2010 Ford Taurus will be built at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be available in dealer showrooms in the summer.

[Source: Ford]

On the surface there's little in the way of aesthetic changes to the boxy sexy design of the 2010 Ford Flex, but the addition of Ford's much ballyhooed 3.5-Liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 below the surface offers a compelling reason for buyers in the market to give the Flex a second look. The new Flex, in EcoBoost trim, will offer the new engine with the same estimated 355 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque as found in the 2010 Ford Taurus, with which it also shares a platform.

The addition of two turbochargers and direct fuel injection (the two powers which unite to form EcoBoost) brings oomph to the Flex without the usual fuel consumption penalty. The EcoBoost-powered Flex, available only in AWD, will achieve 22 MPG highway and 18 MPG combined, which compares well to the 22 MPG highway and 16 MPG city performance of the naturally aspirated V6. Though the new Flex will only be mated to a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission we suspect there isn't much clamoring for a third pedal in this segment.

The Flex will also come with Ford's upgraded SYNC and navigation systems for those wanting to run the options up on their crossover. No word yet on the premium you'll have to pay to get into a Flex with EcoBoost.

Introduction of 3.5-liter ecoboost v-6 engine adds even more versatility to distinctive Ford Flex

Detroit, Jan. 11, 2009 – Ford Flex turns heads with its distinctive design – and in 2009, the unique full-size crossover becomes even more noteworthy, thanks to an available twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine.

This all-new engine gives Flex V-8 power and performance feel with the fuel economy of a V-6.
The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 produces an estimated 355 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 350 foot-pounds of torque at 3,500 rpm. In addition to the power upgrade, the 2010 EcoBoost Flex boasts segment-leading fuel economy among full-size performance crossover vehicles with 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.

The 2010 Flex has unsurpassed fuel economy in the full-size crossover segment with 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined, one of a number of new Ford products delivering the best or among the best fuel economy.

“We are committed to delivering fuel economy leadership in every new vehicle,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group president of Global Product Development. “We do this with affordable technology that can be applied to the widest number of vehicles. EcoBoost is an important component of that goal.

“The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power.  We’re able to decrease the size of the available engine – such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 – yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque of that larger engine.”

The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine requires all-wheel drive and will be available on well-equipped SEL and Limited models of the 2010 Flex, packaged with several high-demand customer features.

“People who drive the Flex want to make a statement, and the new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is very much in keeping with that attitude,” said Ron Heiser, chief engineer of the Ford Flex. “We’re proud and excited to add Ford’s most advanced engine, which is the first V-6 direct-injection twin turbocharged engine produced in North America, to the Flex line.”

The addition of the EcoBoost engine builds on what already is a strong package for Flex.

“We know that there are customers who are looking for the power and performance of a traditional V-8 but are not willing to sacrifice this for fuel economy,” said Kate Pearce, Flex marketing manager. “No one else in this segment offers this level of performance and versatility, and when you wrap it up in Flex’s unique package, we believe that it will offer a compelling buy in the crossover segment.”

The EcoBoost program is part of Ford’s ongoing and wide-ranging initiative to deliver fuel-efficient powertrain systems with power and performance found in larger-displacement engines.

“EcoBoost engines offer more power and better fuel economy,” said Brett Hinds, EcoBoost design manager. “It’s all part of Ford’s strategy to bring adaptable powertrain technology to all kinds of vehicles and all kinds of lifestyles. This technology is affordable and applicable to all gasoline engines.”

Hinds said the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 will handle any tasks Ford Flex drivers ask of it. “The drivability of EcoBoost engines is superior and it just generates a lot more confidence in your Flex – it goes where you want it to go,” he said. “You’re rewarding yourself as a driver.”

The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 also will arrive in the Lincoln MKS and MKT in 2009. Although these are three very different vehicles that serve different needs for customers, the EcoBoost engine can handle the roles seamlessly and effectively. The 2010 EcoBoost V-6 MKT, for example, provides segment-leading fuel economy, exceeding the V-8-powered Audi Q7 by 4 mpg on the highway.

“A key element in our EcoBoost strategy is the efficiency we gain by employing a common control unit across a wide variety of vehicle applications,” said Craig Stephens, EcoBoost powertrain control system manager. “All the driver should notice is the seamless power delivery and terrific fuel economy.”

The key to the EcoBoost system is the harmony between the twin turbochargers and the direct injection fuel system. The turbochargers recover energy from the exhaust that otherwise would’ve been wasted and put it back in the engine to gain efficiency. Simply, the turbocharging system puts more air into the engine for more power. A compressor increases or “boosts” the pressure of the air entering the engine. An intercooler reduces the air temperature before it enters the engine.

The twin parallel turbochargers, which are water cooled and operate simultaneously, combine with a direct-injection fuel system to produce power when the driver pushes down on the gas pedal. The high-pressure fuel pump operates up to 2,175 psi – more than 35 times the norm seen in a conventional V-6 engine. The high-pressure pump is a cam-driven mechanical pump with a single piston and an electronic valve that controls how much fuel is routed into the fuel rails to the injectors.

As demands on the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine are increased, the control system responds to maintain optimal combustion, timing and injection duration.

On each stroke, six individual jets spray fuel directly into the combustion chamber, mixing with the incoming air. “By bringing the fuel injector right into the combustion chamber, there’s no delay from the time you inject the fuel to when it’s used by the engine,” Hinds said.

The fuel injectors are located on the side of the combustion chamber. When the fuel is injected into the cylinder, it evaporates and cools the air that’s been inducted into the cylinder. “Another benefit of our direct injection method is that it cools the air right where you’re going to burn it,” Hinds said. “This action both improves the breathing of the engine and minimizes knocking.”

The direct injection of fuel into the cylinder also helps provide a well-mixed air-fuel charge, increasing engine efficiency. Direct injection provides several benefits in terms of fuel burn and lower emissions.

“Because the fuel is directly introduced into the combustion chamber, you don’t get fuel wetting the combustion wall like with port fuel injection, you don’t saturate the ports and you don’t get droplets that might recombine and add to saturation,” Hinds said. “By injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber and under high pressure, the fuel can be directed to exactly where we want it to be for a given combustion cycle.”

The spray pattern for the fuel was optimized after extensive modeling work, with the angle of how the fuel is sprayed key to the process.
“The better combustion process is a big advantage of direct injection,” Hinds said. “In a port fuel system, at key off it’s possible to have fuel on the walls of the intake port, which migrates to the top of the valve and puddles. So when you key on, you get that emissions spike. Direct injection is much cleaner from that standpoint.”

Turbo lag virtually eliminated
The simultaneous turbocharger operation paired with the direct-injection system help to virtually eliminate turbo lag, one of the main reasons turbocharger technology was not previously more widely used.

The dual-turbocharger setup has several advantages over previous turbocharging systems, including:

• The turbochargers are smaller, resulting in more-compact exhaust manifolds, which don’t generate as much heat
• Turbochargers are packaged adjacent to the cylinder block and have improved mounting providing NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) improvements
• The dual turbochargers spool up quicker, allowing the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine to reach peak torque faster. The turbochargers spin at approximately 170,000 rpm. By comparison, the redline for the engine is approximately 6,500 rpm

“Our two turbochargers both operate identically over the speed range of the engine – one is responsible for the left bank of the engine and the other is responsible for the right bank,” Hinds said. “Both spin immediately and produce boost, even at low engine speeds.”

The turbochargers are designed for a life cycle of 150,000 miles or 10 years.

“Our testing is far, far more harsh than could be achieved in the real world,” Hinds said. “In an extreme situation, a customer might be able to hit peak power for about 10 seconds – probably not even that much. We test at peak power for hundreds of hours to ensure we can reach our durability and reliability goals.”

The turbochargers are only about the size of an orange, but help provide a big performance advantage to customers. Hinds describes the torque response in terms of linear acceleration – power whenever you need it.

“You get peak torque across a very wide engine speed range,” he said. “It’s available when you pull away from a stoplight or pass someone on a secondary road at a comparatively low speed. You don’t need to wind up the engine to get performance out of it. It’s there all the time.”

Turbocharger “whoosh” is mitigated by electronically controlled anti-surge valves, which proactively relieve the boost in the intake, which can range up to 12 PSI. Precise software calibrations manage the pressures in the intake manifold.

“We control the boost to make sure that customers don’t recognize when the boost is building,” Hinds said. “As the turbochargers spool up, the electronic control system takes over. Our active wastegate control along with the throttle controls the boost and torque levels very precisely and the customer perceives a continuous delivery of torque.”

Extensive durability tests on the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine ensure it will excel in all conditions. Start-up tests, with a wide variety of fuels, were made in conditions ranging from minus 40 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Altitude testing up to 12,000 feet in Colorado also was performed.

“The direct-injection fuel system allows us some real opportunities in terms of optimizing cold start for both emissions and robustness,” Hinds said. “We have multiple injections for each combustion event, and we can essentially tune where those injections should take place to deliver the strongest start possible with the lowest emissions.”

Mated to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine is the 6-speed 6F-55 SelectShift automatic transmission, which is dedicated to the twin-turbocharger engine.
The 6F-55 transmission was developed from the successful 6F-50 transmission to specifically respond to the increased torque demands of the EcoBoost V-6 engine. Upgrades were made to the transmission’s friction material in response to the higher shift energies, and a new torque converter has been optimized for performance and fuel economy.

Additionally, the 6F-55 transmission operates more efficiently. The transmission team was able to reduce the fluid level in the transmission, which in turn reduced weight and drag torque on the system. Upgrades to the transmission’s thermal valve mean the system warms up quicker, reducing gear-spin losses.

“We’ve upgraded the gear sets to handle the increased torque,” said Joe Baum, powertrain team leader. “We’ve also adjusted the final drive ratio and matched the gear ratios to provide the optimum performance and fuel economy.

“Our final drive ratio is 2.73. With a lower final drive ratio, the engine spins lower at highway speeds, which helps save fuel. And with all the torque, the Ford Flex still delivers good low-speed launch performance.”

One harmonious system
Careful powertrain system management ensures the engine, turbochargers and transmission work together harmoniously.

“The Flex is a hit with our customers, bringing new customers to Ford,” Heiser said. “Adding the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is just more great news.”

[Source: FORD]