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Detroit 2009: Most Significant Vehicles of the Show



With the state of the automotive industry and the wider economy, you could hardly blame us for expecting that this year's Detroit Auto Show would come off as cold and foreboding as the weather outside Cobo Hall. In reality, while the show's traditional glitz was definitely pared back, there was surprising depth on display, with a solid crop of new vehicle and concept introductions that point the way toward a bright future for the industry -- provided its players can navigate today's dicey waters. After taking it all in over the past few days, we've distilled down what we feel are the show's most important debuts, both production and conceptual. Click on the link below to launch our gallery list of the most significant vehicle rollouts at the show (in alphabetical by manufacturer order), and see if you don't agree.



Detroit 2009: Post-Bailout Booth Tour - Chrysler


Click above to begin the Chrysler booth tour

Yesterday, we gave you a guided tour of GM's first post-bailout NAIAS display. Today, we head across the hall to Chrysler, where the floundering automaker's dire financial straits are reflected on the show floor. Chrysler, once renowned for its lavish press conferences and known for its fancy display stands, has throttled back... big time. All three brands now share an open floorplan. No waterfall at Jeep, no giant Ram horns. Just cars and carpet. Taxpayer dollars now in the bank, the Pentastar is obviously trying to stretch them as far as it can while looking responsible in the process. The financial Grim Reaper has been shooed away for the moment, but don't worry about him; he'll definitely be back. The larger question after this year is, will Chrysler? Jump into the gallery below to begin the tour.

Note: The vehicles shown in the gallery were still in the process of being moved around when these photos were taken Monday night.

REVIEW: Audi & NFL Films find Truth in 24



With most sports documentaries, you know how the story's going to end before you even sit down. That knowledge doesn't make Truth in 24 any less fascinating, dramatic, or exciting. The story of Audi's 2008 effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Truth in 24 provides a very rare glimpse behind the scenes as Audi Motorsport prepares for, competes in, and ultimately wins the world's most famous endurance race. Audi went to NFL Films to make the movie, and director Keith Crossrow has applied that outfit's uniquely compelling storytelling ability to motor racing -- a sport he was largely unfamiliar with by his own admission. The results, fortunately, make for one Hell of a watch.

Read more →

Detroit 2009: The top ten cars that still could not care less about fuel efficiency


Click above for a high-res gallery of the top ten anti-fuel efficient cars

With the dramatic fluctuation of fuel prices in recent years, auto shows and the automakers that frequent them have focused more on green cars and increased efficiency. Gone are the days of supercar concepts like the Cadillac Cien and Chrysler ME412, as they're replaced by fuel sipping hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles. Still, a few manufacturers dare to bring gas-guzzlers to the joy of those who still enjoy tire-shredding horsepower. Click on the link below to see the top ten vehicles of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show that relentlessly celebrate smokey burnouts and completely unnecessary top speeds.


Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Not in Detroit: Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept

Here's another one from the world of unlimited conceptual design: the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept. Otherwise known as the Cadillac WTF. Created by Loren Kulesus, everything about the WTF has been created to last 100 years without maintenance. That's the reason for the element number ninety, thorium: to act as a nuclear fuel powering batteries that would power the car.

Elsewhere, every major system is redundant in case of a failure. And the wheels don't have individual tires - in fact, what's located at each corner is one combined unit made up of six individual wheels. That gives you 24 wheels in total, and each wheel has its own induction motor. Said Kulesus, "The vehicle would require the tires to be adjusted every five years, but no material would need to be added or subtracted." Here's to the future. While you wait for it, have a look at the Cadillac WTC in the gallery of high-res photos below.


[Source: Coroflot via Autoblog.nl]

Detroit 2009: Eyes on Design Awards for best concept, best production vehicle


Click any image above for a high-res gallery

Each year, the Detroit Auto Show plays host to the Eyes on Design Awards, where a group of judges descend into the bowels of Cobo Hall to pick their favorite vehicles from the show. The nominees are predictably divided into two categories: Design Excellence for a Concept Vehicle and Design Excellence for a Production Vehicle.

This year's ceremony was MC'd by our very own John McElroy from Autoline Detroit, with judging duties handled by BMW design head Chris Bangle, Harley-Davidson chief styling officer Willy G. Davidson, and transportation design chair at the College for Creative Studies Larry Erickson. The two winners for production vehicle were the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the 2010 BMW Z4, while Audi Sportback and Cadillac Converj took home the best concept awards. Check out all four vehicles in the galleries below and let the judges know your own picks in the comments.




Detroit 2009: Dodge Challenger R/T Classic


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic

For the most part, the lineup at the Chrysler stand here in Detroit is like an advertisement for Zoloft. There are a few exceptions, however. The blue Ram R/T is one, and here's another: the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic. As appearance packages go, this one's a winner. 20-inch Torq-Thrust replicas fill the wheel wells, old-school R/T stripes run down the flanks, and best of all, the classic script Challenger badge adorns each fender. Hey Chrysler -- they should all get this treatment. As you can see, the one parked on the Detroit floor is painted HEMI Orange. We'd order the B5 Blue. Ultimately, it's cool either way.


Photos copyright ©2009 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

Detroit 2009: 2010 Ford Taurus in depth [w/VIDEO]



The Ford Taurus has gained a reputation of being a very large, very safe, very sedate sedan. Ford wanted to add some adjectives, including attractive, modern, and contemporary, so the Blue Oval design team went back to the drawing board. The result? The 2010 Ford Taurus ditches the bulbous, boring sheetmetal for a thoroughly refreshing set of duds, and with the long awaited 3.5-liter, 355 hp Ecoboost engine finally coming... ladies and gentlemen... it's SHO time!

With our cameras rolling, we had the chance to talk with some of the people responsible for the all-new Taurus. Hit play above to see it for yourself, and if you want more details about Ford's new flagship sedan, hit our extensive preview by clicking here.

Corvette Centennial Transformer toy reveals robot mode

We haven't really heard a peep about the Corvette Centennial Concept since late last year, but that'll be changing in short order as hype about Revenge of the Fallen, the upcoming sequel to the wildly successful live-action Transformers movie, gets closer to its release on June 26th. We're expecting to see a real car from General Motors to go along with the movie roll, but it's not something that you'll be able to buy. This machine is meant as nothing more than a tribute to the Corvette, and it coincides nicely with GM's 100th anniversary.

The most current set of rumors suggest that the Centennial 'Vette will take the form of Transformers character Sideswipe, though there's no official word on that point quite yet. Regardless, the robot mode has been revealed via a new Transformers toy leak. Pay close attention (click on the image to enlarge) to the robot's feet -- he's a skater, and that should make for some interesting scenes in the movie. Just a few more months to go. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: Transformers Live Action Movie Blog]

Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram R/T Accessorized


Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Dodge Ram R/T

Stuck among the largely forgettable production vehicles at the Chrysler, LLC display is this Mopar-enhanced Ram R/T. Originally shown at SEMA, B5 Blue (we think) covers its bodywork, which is very close to the ground thanks to a new set of springs and shocks. Kumho-shod, 22-inch forged wheels are stuffed into the cutouts. In front, the Challenger-style hood rocks a set of SRT stripes, the headlamp housings are blacked out, and a new front bumper with chin spoiler threatens to scrape against any obstacle taller than a praying mantis. Out back, a body-colored bed cover thwarts prying eyes, and a pair of fat polished exhaust tips pokes under the rear bumper. Inside, you'll find color-keyed inserts and R/T embroidery on the seats. Overall, this thing looks pretty mean, especially when its surrounded with your garden variety Dakotas and Durangos.


Photos copyright ©2009 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

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