blog.niot.net
tags :
bmw , detroit auto show , detroit city counci , detroit city council , detroitautoshow , detroitcitycounci , detroitcitycouncil , mercedes-benz , naias , north american inter... , north american international auto show , north american international auto show education , north american international auto show education day ,
Regardless of their displeasure with the cost, size and quality of Cobo Hall in Detroit, executives from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have committed to at least one more round of exhibits at the annual North American International Auto Show held at the venue each January. The German automakers occupy serious square footage at the show, and the exhibits generate much needed jobs and revenue, so the news was obviously welcomed by show officials. As automakers scale back and exit auto shows due to the economy, or rethink marketing strategies as new markets in India, Russia, and Brazil open up, the big traditional auto shows (such as those in Detroit and Tokyo) are feeling the pressure. The latest news is that Tokyo's show is now on the verge of cancellation with the departure of Detroit's three automakers. While the Germans returning for NAIAS 2010 is welcomed news, the underlying message is that local officials (and the Detroit city council) are going to have to work even harder to save the show for 2011.
posted : 5/19/2009 @1:43:16 PM
Each year, thousands of journalists arrive in Detroit to see the best and brightest concepts and production vehicles automakers have to offer. It's estimated that the Detroit Auto Show brings in $500 to $600 million dollars annually to the region, which is struggling more than most due to the global recession. For years, the City of Detroit has failed to expand Cobo, and each year there are threats that the NAIAS will be taken away from the Motor City. The state of Michigan has been working with executives from Wayne and Oakland counties and the city of Detroit to upgrade Cobo, but yesterday the Detroit City Council voted down the proposed plan by a five-three tally. The proposed expansion was to add a much needed 166,000-sq. ft. of floorspace at a cost of $288 million.
more ...
posted : 4/26/2009 @4:09:54 AM
tags :
2010 detroit auto show , 2010 naias , 2010detroitautoshow , 2010naias , detroit , detroit 2010 , detroit auto show , detroit2010 , detroitautoshow , naias , north american international auto show , northamericaninternationalautoshow
It looks like we'll have one less day to report on all of the debuts from Detroit next year. According to the Detroit News, the North American International Auto Show's organizers have decided to cut the number of media preview days from three to two for next year's show. The move will bring the show in-line with other domestic shows that typically only have two days of media press conferences. The 2010 Detroit Auto Show will officially kick off on Monday, rather than on its traditional Sunday launch. There will be about 30 time slots for press conferences during two full days of festivities, eliminating the usual half day on day three. Industry days will continue to be held on Wednesday and Thursday. While this probably means very little to all of you, we're looking forward to sleeping in on Sunday. Hey, if nothing else, we figure to be that much better-rested come Monday so that we can bring you all of the latest news. That said, we don't imagine local hotel and parking lot owners are terribly excited about this development.
posted : 4/11/2009 @2:50:27 PM
tags :
best of , bestof , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , miscellaneous , naias , naias 2009 , naias2009 , odds and ends , oddsandends
Auto shows throw massive amounts of promotions, marketing, branding, communications and event planning brainpower into one little bowl. Everyone is trying to be distinctive, and sometimes they do it with the cars, sometimes with the merchandise, sometimes with lures that are meant to get you to their stand at all. Yet there are only so many positions in which to mount a car and so many ways to put a logo on a jacket, right? Inevitably, that means you come across a few nifty novelties, and you also discover a few more things that fell through the cracks and make you wonder "What is this... doing here?" These are few of those odds and ends we found at last week's 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
posted : 2/10/2009 @8:51:10 PM
tags :
9-5 , 9-5 griffin edition , 9-5griffinedition , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , naias , naias 2009 , naias2009 , saab , saab 9-5 , saab 9-5 griffin edition , saab9-5 , saab9-5griffinedition , sedan , special edition , specialedition
We really feel for the folks at Saab, and not just because we love the 9-5 SportCombi and that we pined for a Turbo 900 with the Aero package for what seemed like all of the '80s. Yet look ahead 20 years – specifically to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show – and all we have to get excited about is the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition. Frankly, the press release is more exciting. The grille is spruced up with matte chrome. Besides the fact that it looks like plastic, doesn't a matte finish defeat the purpose of chrome? Inside, as always with Saab, the two-tone seats are terrific places to plop one's rear, and the things covered in leather have the look and feel you want in your quirky luxury sedan. Elsewhere... well, it's the same thing Saab owners have been looking at for years, but with some of the plastic in different places. It isn't bad. It's "Why?" It comes with almost everything; the only options being metallic paint, ventilated seats and navigation. But when this is everything, and everything in sedan form costs $42,775, who's looking for this? Oh Saab, wherefore art thou?
posted : 2/1/2009 @10:15:54 PM
tags :
2010 chevrolet camaro , 2010 chevrolet camaro rs , 2010 chevrolet camaro ss , 2010chevroletcamaro , 2010chevroletcamarors , 2010chevroletcamaross , camaro , chevrolet , chevrolet camaro , chevroletcamaro , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , naias
It seems like eons since Chevy initially unveiled the Camaro concept in Detroit. Since then, we've seen so many camouflaged test mules and pre-production cars that we were starting to worry the design would feel too familiar before the Camaro hit dealerships. In reality, three years is a relatively short time for car to go from concept to reality, and from the reactions we saw on the show floor, the Camaro has nothing to worry about. Despite the focus on green cars, the Camaro was still one of the most popular vehicles at the Chevrolet display and we had to wait our turn to get a look inside. We are big fans of the overall design and love the retro look, but were somewhat disappointed with the overall feel and quality of materials used inside -- the 2010 Mustang easily trumps the Camaro in terms of interior quality. Still, the true test will come when we can fire up the LS3 V8 and take advantage of the 400 horsepower and six-speed transmission.
posted : 2/1/2009 @10:10:15 PM
tags :
challenger , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , dodge , dodge challenger , dodge challenger mopar accessories , dodge challenger rt , dodgechallenger , dodgechallengermoparaccessories , dodgechallengerrt , mopar , naias
The Dodge Challenger remains by far one of the most exciting offerings in Chrysler's lineup, and in addition to the R/T Classic edition, Dodge had on display an R/T on display complete with the latest products from its Mopar catalog. The car you see here comes with Nostalgia wheels ($561 each), Go-Wing spoiler ($307), carbon fiber engine cover ($313), cold air intake ($359), cat-back exhaust system ($1,155), performance shifter ($680), coilover suspension kit ($1,704), Katzkin leather seats ($1,240), T/A hood, and more. Some of the parts seem a little expensive, but the Moparized Challenger looks absolutely retrotastic in a more subtle way than the aforementioned Classic R/T.
posted : 2/1/2009 @10:07:51 PM
tags :
chrysler , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , dodge , jeep , naias , naias 2009 , naias2009 , pos-bailout booth tour , pos-bailoutboothtour
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?
posted : 2/1/2009 @9:44:22 PM
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.
posted : 2/1/2009 @9:35:06 PM
tags :
challenger , challenger rt , challenger rt classic , challengerrt , challengerrtclassic , classic , detroit , detroit 2009 , detroit auto show , detroit auto show 2009 , detroit2009 , detroitautoshow , detroitautoshow2009 , dodge , naias , naias 2009 , naias2009 , rt
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.
posted : 2/1/2009 @9:31:34 PM
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