Official Detroit Auto Show 2007 Discussions

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Seems like the show this year is going to get back a bit to the glorious over-the-top shows of yore.

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/AUTO01/612070389/1148

DCX to put cars on ice

Cars on ice are coming to Detroit.

A Mercedes-Benz exhibit at next month's North American International Auto Show will display some vehicles on a giant patch of slippery, glistening ice.

The luxury carmaker, part of DaimlerChrysler AG, is trying to create a wintry feel in which to tout its all-wheel-drive traction control technology, said Mercedes spokesman Rob Moran.

Set designers are already at work installing refrigeration coils and special carpeting at its Cobo Center display area. "Were sort of bringing the outside in," Moran said.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/AUTO01/612070388/1148
GM revamps auto show display

General Motors's new display will be sectioned off from its competitors with its own walls and ceilings -- creating a show-within-a-show feeling.

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is rebuilding from scratch its massive exhibit for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in an effort to highlight its new emphasis on stylish vehicle designs.

With about 6,000 media expected for the media preview kicking off Jan. 7 and an estimated 800,000 visitors during the following public days -- not to mention a national television audience -- the Detroit show is a critical platform for automakers to showcase their cars and trucks.

GM says the auto show display will complement its stylish new vehicle designs and showcase each of its eight brands.

The 120,000-square-foot display at Cobo Center will be about the same size as in past years, but will be sectioned off from its competitors with its own walls and ceilings -- creating a show-within-a-show feeling.

A bejeweled GM corporate logo and 26-foot-tall stainless steel ribbon will greet visitors to the exhibit's entrance, where they will be funneled into 10 separate display areas: one for the overall company, one highlighting the company's corporate strategy and one for each of GM's eight brands.

"The message we're trying to build is that GM is a design-driven organization," said Teckla Rhoads, GM director of industrial design and North American design operations. "And auto shows are the perfect venues to highlight the design story."

Each section of the GM display will feature special lighting and effects to highlight the characteristics GM wants consumers to associate with its brands.

The Buick display, for example, aims to convey comfort and luxury with an exhibit built from wood, polished stone tile and gossamer fabric black walls.

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade will sit on a stage made with frosted glass and stainless steel that features running footage of the vehicles in the backdrop, to convey cutting-edge style.

GM will feature five concept vehicles at the core of the setup, as well as an exhibit on the future of vehicle propulsion technology.

"What we're trying to go for is the one-company approach," said Timothy Peters, GM assistant director of auto shows.

Among GM's debuts at the auto show will be a redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and a new Cadillac CTS.

GM has been working hard to sell its designs, an area where it has fallen flat in the past.

This year may be the first time GM can make a credible case for design leadership, said Erich Merkle, an auto analyst with Grand Rapids-based IRN Inc.

"They wouldn't be able to pull this off showing things like current Malibu or the Grand Am," he said. "GM has come a long way in terms of their product design and the new products coming out are very attractive."

The GM display will be in the northwest corner of Cobo Center and will no longer be adjacent to the Ford Motor Co. space, auto show organizers said Wednesday.

Ford overhauled its display last year, building it around the emblematic Blue Oval logo.

Also new this year: Chinese automaker Changfeng will have a display space in the lower Michigan Hall area. It will be the first time a Chinese carmaker has had a display on the show floor.

Volkswagen gave up its space in Michigan Hall and will be on only one floor this year instead of split between two sites.

2007 auto show

When: Jan. 13-21
Where: Cobo Hall in Detroit
Open: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jan. 13-20; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 21
Cost: Adults, $12; seniors 65 and older and children ages 7-12, $6; kids younger than 6get in free with a parent

[wing]

Haha, I wonder if I should bring my gloves and skates.

[Snowman]

When is Subaru going to officially announce and show us the new Impreza?

[airbalancer]

when is the bus trip

[sirAQUAMAN64]

A new Lancer looms

Automotive News / December 11, 2006 - 1:00 am

Mitsubishi will debut its redesigned Lancer at the Detroit auto show in January. When it goes on sale in the spring, the car will be the first Mitsubishi sold in the United States available with a continuously variable transmission. The 2008 Lancer has a longer wheelbase and is wider and taller than the current version, but the body is not as long. The new Lancer is the second vehicle based on Mitsubishi's C platform, which was introduced on the 2007 Outlander crossover.

Very Mazda3 / IS-like, but quite nice.

[mdxtasy]

Pretty nice lines.  Boxy when compared to the Civic's space-like design but it does have an agressive snout.  I like it.

[Snowman]

I really like the styling of the new Lancer. Too bad the dealer network is lacking because they could have a hit on their hands.

[wing]

Local dealer in Ottawa (only 1) works out of a portable....

[Bullet Blue]

More pics:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/1957?@905.uhzxaodSHoj@

Looks good, but for some reason the tail lights look odd to me.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/061211-2.htm
December 11, 2006

Nissan to unveil Rogue and Bevel in Detroit

Mississauga, Ontario - Nissan North America has announced it will preview two new vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in January, the Rogue crossover sport utility vehicle, and an advanced design study called the Bevel.

The all-new Rogue is Nissan's first entry into the CUV segment, and is scheduled to go on sale in fall 2007 as a 2008 model. The Rogue features exceptional handling, all-wheel drive capability and an innovative, versatile interior.

The Nissan Bevel Concept, created at Nissan Design America in California, is a multi-purpose vehicle with "small size, big utility and fresh thinking", including a function-inspired design, command central cockpit and high-utility interior.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

More pics:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/1957?@905.uhzxaodSHoj@

Looks good, but for some reason the tail lights look odd to me.

Okay, very Lexus IS-like.

Looks really good to me as a sport edition, the lines on the lower line models are less impactful and make it kind of generic. But overall I do like it a lot. This and the new Outlander are really hot.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/UPDATE/612110406
GM will feature stars and cars at celebrity fashion show

Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News

General Motors Corp. will bring its L.A.-style celebrity car fashion show to the banks of the Detroit River next month in an effort to hype its vehicles just before the North American International Auto Show.

Several stars will accompany GM vehicles as they glide down an aisle set up inside a heated tent along the Detroit River. GM announced on Monday that the event will take place on Jan. 6, the night before the auto show's first press day.

GM has hosted a similar event in Los Angeles as part of the festivities surrounding the annual Oscar awards, but it will be the first time the automaker has done it in Detroit.

Celebrities already signed on for Motown event in Motown include: Cheryl Hines, from the HBO's comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; Vivica A. Fox, who's been in several films and movies including the most-recent edition of "Dancing With The Stars"; supermodel Petra Nemcova. Danny Masterson from "That 70's Show" will DJ the event.

GM will show off 17 vehicles during the event, called GM Style.

"Not to be eclipsed by the star power in the room, Style's pristine fleet of GM vehicles will captivate the audience with the world debut of a concept vehicle," Mike Jackson, GM North America vice president, marketing and advertising said in a statement.

[mdxtasy]

Who are these 'stars' they speak of?  Are they Giant Dwarf stars or are they past their shiny prime and gone into Black Hole status?

[Snowman]

Who are these 'stars' they speak of?  Are they Giant Dwarf stars or are they past their shiny prime and gone into Black Hole status?

 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Drop top Benz S-Class...
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/mercedes-four-door-drop-top-to-debut-in-detroit/

I think this could be a really hot product.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Thanks for linking/merging to the CD front page Wing.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

2007 Car of the Year finalists


Fit, Aura, Camry vie for car award
Silverado, Edge, CX-7 finalists for truck award

Dale Jewett  |   |  Automotive News / December 13, 2006 - 12:30 pm

 
2007 Truck of the Year finalists
 
 
DETROIT -- The Honda Fit, Saturn Aura and Toyota Camry are the finalists for the 2007 North American Car of the Year award.

Finalists for the 2007 North American Truck of the Year award are the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7.

The finalists for both awards were announced today here. The winners will be named Jan. 7, at the start of press preview days for the North American International Auto Show.

The finalists were culled from a candidate pool of 12 cars and 14 trucks. The finalists were determined by the votes of 49 auto journalist jurors. The jury includes Automotive News Executive Editor Edward Lapham and Senior Writer Dale Jewett, and AutoWeek Editor Dutch Mandel and Road Test Editor Natalie Neff. Both publications are owned by Crain Communications Inc.

In a new procedure for the 2007 awards, jurors will vote a second time to choose a winner from among the three finalists in each category. In previous years, the top three vote getters in each category were named finalists, with the top vote-getting vehicle named the winner.

Others considered
These were the other candidates in the 2007 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards:
Cars

Chrysler Sebring

Dodge Caliber

Hyundai Elantra

Infiniti G35

Jaguar XK and XKR

Lexus LS 460

Mercedes-Benz S class

Nissan Altima

Nissan Versa


Trucks

Acura MDX

Acura RDX

Audi Q7

BMW X5

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban

Dodge Nitro

GMC Acadia

Honda CR-V

Hyundai Santa Fe

Saturn Vue Green Line

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Of the finalists, for the US market I would pick Camry and Silverado, although it could be edged-out, so to speak 

[wing]

NSX to debut at NAIAS?

http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4061219NAIAS2007/

[Bullet Blue]

NSX to debut at NAIAS?

http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4061219NAIAS2007/

I'm very interested to see this one. Especially the specs.