It may not be the same as attending the event in-person, but a live, interactive webcast of Volvo's press conference at the Detroit Auto Show, where the S60 concept and production XC60 for North America will be shown, could be the next best thing. The broadcast is intended for media types and members of the press, but the fact that it's being aired on DirecTV (channel 101, January 11 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM ET) means that anybody with a television and the satellite service can watch it live. Alternatively, users can register for a password to the online site, the location of which is not yet determined. The coolest bit of tech that's making an appearance for this event is the capability to send questions to a live host who will then relay selected inquiries to key Volvo executives. These days, the global economic downturn is affecting everyone, including those who would normally cover these events for the media. This being the case and assuming the event is a success, we'd expect to more manufacturers to adopt a similar system at upcoming auto shows. Of course, we'll be there live and you can always direct your browsers to our pages for the best coverage available.
When Ford introduced the new 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show in November, marketing boss Jim Farley promised the next chapter in the Mustang story would be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Well that time has arrived and to anyone who has been following the Mustang pattern over the last several years, it should come as no surprise that it's the Shelby GT500. Just like the last iteration, the new GT500 is the most powerful factory production Mustang ever. Like the more prosaic Mustangs, the GT500 is mechanically an evolution of the older model. Just as Ford used the current-gen Bullitt model as the starting point for the 2010 Mustang GT, the lessons learned from developing the limited edition GT500 KR fed directly into the latest Shelby-badged variant. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V8 has now been cranked up to 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, and the handling is claimed to be better than before.
Just two weeks after we learned that Honda had suspended plans to introduce a new V10 NSX sports car in 2010 comes word that we may see the car anyway. Sort of. The production program is still dead, but it is being reported that the previously scheduled "concept" will appear at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in a couple of weeks. In typical Honda fashion, a concept version of a new model appears a few months for the street edition. In this case, the NSX was set to debut next fall at the Tokyo Motor Show with the conceptual preview at the Detroit auto show. Since the concept was already prepared before Honda made the decision to scrap the program, they will show it anyway. Honda's presence in Cobo will still be low-key however, with its press conference having been canceled. The NSX and the production Insight will simply appear on the show floor.
Could it be? Right in the midst of my own personal search for a mint Gen 1 (1989-1991) Taurus SHO comes pictoral proof that Ford may be resurrecting the Super High Output model. What we have here is one of many images published by Jalopnik showing the "SHO" moniker in its traditional font on the passenger side dash of a 2010 Ford Taurus. What does it all mean? That's tough to say. The safe bet is that Ford may be developing a Taurus SHO concept car that could debut after the standard model is revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month. It would also be safe to assume that a Taurus SHO would be powered by Ford's new EcoBoost V6, which is rumored to produce 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. That's a heaping helping more than the 220 hp produced by the Yamaha-built 3.0L V6 in the original SHO, but there's also a lot more Taurus to haul around these days.
While it's possible that Ford could be adding the SHO trim level back to the Taurus line, we hope these pictures portend the arrival of a concept car only. You might be wondering how such an avid SHO fan could speak such blasphemy, and the answer is that today's Taurus is far removed from the original that shocked the industry back in 1986. Back then the Taurus was a mid-size family sedan with a futuristic design that broke the mold, and the SHO was heralded as an M3 at half the price when it arrived in 1989. Today's Taurus is just too big and expensive to wear those shoes, though an M5 on sale for 50% off sounds tempting. If we're being honest, however, a Fusion SHO tuned by SVT would be irresistible.
As is so often the case these days, some early details regarding Honda's upcoming Prius-fighter have leaked out before the hybrid's official unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show. Included among the surprises is a Modulo-trimmed Insight featuring a full set of body mods from Honda's accessory catalog in Japan. We can't be sure if any of those bits will come Stateside (we're not betting on it), but it wouldn't be surprising if we got three trim levels similar to what's slated to be available in Honda's home market of Japan. We could get a base DX trim along with an up-level LX edition and a sportier EX model with such tasty bits as a paddle-shifted CVT automatic transmission and navigation system with 7-inch screen. With just 88 horses underhood along with an additional 14 from the hybrid's electric motor, don't expect the Insight to be a tire scorching performer, as its true calling with be in delivering the best fuel economy possible. In Japanese testing, the Insight has scored over 70 miles-per-gallon, which may be lower than what the Prius was able to register, but the Insight is also expected to cost several thousand dollars less than its rival.
BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is a Chinese company with huge ambition to become the world's largest automaker. If there's any chance of making that monumental task a reality, the company will need some amazing products, a stage to present them to the world and a little luck. At least one of those requirements has been met, as BYD is set to capitalize on Nissan's absence at the Detroit Auto Show in January by placing its products right on the main floor with all the rest of the major automakers. BYD's working on the product problem too, having just released its first plug-in hybrid, called the F3DM, in its home market ealier this month. If that weren't enough, the automaker reportedly plans to release two more all-electric models in 2009, with the goal of bring its products to the crucial American and European markets in 2011. All of these impressive developments have been made possible with the help of a $230 million investment from Warren Buffet. Much like the upcoming Chevy Volt, the BYD F3DM and F6DM sedans and the E6 van rely on an electric motor and an on-board battery pack to provide motive force for the first 60 miles, after which a normal gasoline-powered engine kicks in to keep the party going. Needless to say, we'll keep an eye out for the budding Chinese automaker next month in Detroit.
Automakers have been fleeing the Detroit Auto Show in droves over the last few months. Porsche, citing slow sales in metro Detroit, was the first to announce it was pulling out of the NAIAS, but Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce all followed suit shortly thereafter. While much of the blame can be placed squarely on the broad shoulders of the global economic meltdown, organizers of the event also point to the quickly deteriorating conditions at Cobo Hall and the lack of available space when compared to such venues as the Chicago Auto Show. Even if they can't fix the economy, the U.S. Michigan Senate has stepped in to fix Cobo. A total of 166,000 square-feet of space will be added to the 700,000 that is already present. NAIAS officials are hopeful that this added room, along with a general tidying up of the joint, will bring those manufacturers back and keep any others from leaving after '09. To reach a deal, a five-member board will oversee Cobo Hall, including the governor of Michigan and representatives from Detroit and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. We're sure negotiations will go just swimmingly from here on forward.
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe informed us at least year's Detroit Auto Show that his company would be bringing two new hybrids to this year's show in D-town. The first is the much anticipated next-gen Prius and the second is the first dedicated hybrid model for Lexus. This week the Japanese luxury automaker made it official with a page on its consumer website heralding the debut of the Lexus HS 250h on January 11, smack dab in the middle of press days for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Not much else is known about the vehicle, other than that it will be available to buy in the Fall of 2009. We suspect the HS 250h will be a Lexus-badged version of the Prius in much the same way that the ES350 is a version of the Toyota Camry. Thus, the HS 250h will also use the same next-gen Hybrid Synergy drivetrain that will debut in the new Prius, both sporting nickel-metal hydride battery packs for the time being until development work on advanced lithium-ion packs is completed. Stay tuned for more info on these two hybrid models from Toyota and Lexus as the 2009 Detroit Auto Show draws ever closer.
Just a year after the MKT Concept debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln will be unveiling the production version of its new three-row CUV next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Fortunately, our spy photographers have snapped the most revealing views yet of this new Lincoln being driven out on the snowy streets of Dearborn. As you can see, the production MKT holds true to the design direction set by the concept with the largest version yet of Lincoln's signature split-wing grille and that conspicuous kink at the base of the C-pillar. In profile, the MKT seems to share a roofline with the Audi Q7 that creates a soft arch from front to back, and the rear gate is also tilted far forward to avoid the upright, boxy look of a traditional SUV or CUV.
Though the MKT is based on the same platform and shares many components with the Ford Flex, you could never tell by looking at it. There's no badge engineering going on here, and one could argue whereas the Flex design focuses on slab sides and accentuates the horizontal, the MKT is soft and organic with a focus on being sinewy rather than blocky. Our spy photographers also snapped the dash, which continues a trend at Lincoln of upgrading the materials and incorporating the latest technology. That's real wood stretching across the instrument panel, and you'd be hard pressed to find a larger navigation screen in any other production vehicle (other than another Ford or Lincoln). Finally, we also noticed that this particular prototype is wearing all of its badging, including an EcoBoost badge that confirms at least one engine choice will be an EcoBoost V6 that features turbocharging and direct injection. Keep your eyes on Autoblog in early January for our coverage of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show where we'll finally see Lincoln's future in person.
As the current Saab 9-5 heads into the waning days of its life-cycle, General Motors' Swedish brand will be launching a new limited edition model at the Detroit Auto Show. This time around, the 9-5 Griffin is set to do duty as the most luxurious Saab yet. While one might expect the most premium edition of the 9-5 to use a six cylinder engine like the 2.8-liter turbo from the Turbo-X, it actually uses a 260-horsepower version of the corporate 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo. The Griffin receives matte chrome trim in the front, unique five-spoke 17-inch alloys, a rear spoiler and special badging.
The interior receives minimal changes, including gloss trim, piping on the carpets, and accent-colored stitching on the steering wheel, hand brake pull, and standard leather seats. The Griffin will be available with either two- or three-pedal transmission configurations and four door sedan or wagon ("SportCombi") body styles.The big question remains is that at $42,775 for the sedan and $44,045 for the Sportcombi, will anyone outside of Saab's most faithful really care? GM has already acknowledged that the Swedish brand is under review and the possibility of sale or shutdown looms large.
