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Detroit Auto Show: Looking at the Slope of Things to Come

“WHAT is it?” asked a judge for the Eyes on Design Awards as he contemplated the Chrysler ecoVoyager, a long blue capsule with a stubby front end grafted onto a minivan body.

Finding new names for new vehicle silhouettes was a preoccupation during last week’s press previews of the North American International Auto Show, according to the New York Times.

The hot news in design here was not the latest look of grilles or the lavish use of chrome (though both trends were evident), but rooflines. Designers offered up a variety of profiles, casting aside the tried-and-true types and terms.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:08 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford to unveil upgraded '09 hybrid Escape

WASHINGTON — Ford's 2009 Escape gas-electric hybrid will show improvements in power and performance, the automaker said Tuesday, according to USA Today.

Ford was unveiling the 2009 versions of the Escape and its corporate twin, the 2009 Mercury Mariner, at the Washington Auto Show, which opens to the public on Wednesday and lasts through Sunday.

The sport-utility vehicle was one of several hybrid developments at the show. Both Ford and Toyota Motor Corp. were displaying prototype plug-in hybrids while General Motors Corp. was announcing that new orders from three metropolitan transit agencies would more than double its hybrid bus fleet.

Automakers typically show off their fuel-efficient technologies at the Washington show, which is heavily attended by government and political leaders. An energy law signed by President Bush will require the companies to meet an overall fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:05 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

Auto-driven advertisers still rev up for Super Bowl

Even though the economy is putting the brakes on sales, auto-focused companies still are spending big bucks to drive brand awareness with Super Bowl advertising, according to USA Today.

Audi, Toyota, General Motors, Hyundai and Cars.com all have in-game ads, which are selling for up to $2.7 million for 30 seconds.

Hyundai did have thoughts about reselling the 60 seconds it bought last fall from game broadcaster Fox, but stayed in.

"We wanted to make sure that it made sense (to keep the time) given the fact that the economy doesn't look as bright as it did," said Hyundai spokesman Chris Hosford.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:03 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0