Five favorites from the 2014 Detroit Auto Show

January 16, 2014January 16, 20142 Comments

Kia GT4

Downtown Detroit in January is not exactly in the brief for most people’s dream vacations, but the fact is that the Detroit Auto Show is still mecca for gearheads the world over. With the auto industry newly resurgent – budgets raised and prospects glittering for 2014 – the outlay of new metal in the storied halls of Cobo was as good as it has been in years…

Having walked the floor, written dozens of news stories and taken hundreds of pictures and videos, your editors are now ready to share their five favorite vehicles from Detroit 2014.

AUTOBLOG GREEN is my second stop every morning online. These editorial picks are from their parent AUTOBLOG – still, always interesting to motorheads.

Click through the link above and check out all Top 5.

2013 Detroit Auto Show news

January 16, 2013January 16, 20131 Comment

The annual North American International Auto Show will showcase the state of the art in big pickups. The public will get its first look at General Motors Co.’s new Chevrolet Silverado, as well as Ford Motor Co.’s concept for the next Ford F-150. No wonder stocks of both companies are trading near 18-month highs. Cars will make big news, too: Toyota Motor Corp. is unveiling a model that hints at the look of its next Corolla, one of the world’s best-selling vehicles, while GM will unveil the much-anticipated seventh-generation Corvette

I’ve been a car nut all my life. That’s carried me through more experience than most in a range of vehicles – from wheels that are competitive and fun to race like Corvette and Morgan to mid-size luxury like the Cressida and Jaguar – and smartly-styled econo-wheels like the new Fiesta and every year’s latest Prius.

Can’t pass up several looks at the newest of the new. And I recommend CNET’s car geek podcasts, as well. I have them automagially downloaded along with the other IPTV shows I watch via iTunes and AppleTV.

Green Cars from the Detroit Auto Show

January 16, 2011January 16, 2011Leave a comment

The Inhabitat crew hit the Detroit Auto Show and checked out some of the hottest hybrid, fly-wheel and all electric cars. Check out their footage (and yes, that’s Katie Fehrenbacher’s sister).

Just introduced at opposite ends of the Green spectrum

January 10, 2011January 10, 2011Leave a comment

Porsche has rolled out a race-bred version of the company’s 918 Spyder Concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Packing the same drivetrain as the track-proven 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, Porsche says that the 918 RSR will bring a whopping 767 combined horsepower to the party when it shows up in the paddock. A total of 563 of those ponies are provided by a 6.2-liter V8 that revs to an atmospheric 10,300 rpm. Porsche has partnered its beastly eight-pot with two electric motors capable of 75 kilowatts of juice positioned at each front wheel.

The 918 RSR stores braking energy in a flywheel accumulator stationed where the passenger seat would traditionally rest, and the tech allows the driver to summon up an extra bump in power for passing or acceleration. The pilot can command the boost in grunt for up to eight seconds.

Like the 918 Concept, the bones of the 918 RSR are built of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and the body was penned to pay respect the legendary racers like the 917 short-tail.

Phew! I don’t know. Maybe if I was as young as my brain thinks I am. And as wealthy as some Republicans think they are…

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