Chrysler showed off their ENVI trio this weekend at Media Weekend at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show with the Jeep Renegade Diesel-Hybrid being the greenest of the bunch. Running on two electric motors fueled from a lithium-ion battery pack the Renegade can run 40 miles on a charge. However, with the assistance of the BLUETEC diesel engine and its added 115-hp (watch-out!) the extended range of the Renegade is 400 miles with a fuel rating of 110-mpg. Ofcourse, this is just a concept vehicle and is not meant to be taken literally. It is merely to show you what Chrysler could do, but is not quite ready to do just yet (ever the optimist).

After what could be considered a successful opening for GM at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show a little snippet from Bob Lutz escapes to lay more smack on the new CAFE Laws and to generally “Poo Poo” on everyone’s good time. Both sides that pushed for or against the new CAFE Laws and their requirements of 35mpg by 2020 did their own fair share of “fearmongering” some are just not ready to quit.

Bob Lutz levied his warning to an eager audience that the new CAFE requirements are going to result in an increase in car prices of between $4,000 and $10,000; or $6,000 on average. His warning translates that the research necessary to discover a means to reach those standards and the development of the technology that will be implemented into our future cars will raise the price tag on cars by 2020. Considering the leap in prices I have seen in the last 10 years a $6,000 may be getting off light.

While the new CTS Sedan has been out pounding the pavement and garnering numerous awards GM designers have been quietly cutting their diamond inspired CTS Coupe out of clay. The CTS Coupe takes many styling cues from the Sedan and yet has many distinctive lines that are all its own. The lower sport-tuned stance, the steeper rake from the front to the trunk, the angular cut and handle-less doors and the short rear all give the CTS Coupe plenty of aggression to separate it from the rest of the Cadillac field.

Currently the CTS Coupe is still labeled as a concept car, but it seems impossible that Cadillac would not be rushing this design into production. With space for nearly any engine configuration that GM has available beneath the hood the CTS Coupe already has the base design for the next CTS-V and the bones and brass to carry, dare we say, the new LS9 Corvette ZR1 engine. …Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves.

GM brought out the heavy star power to dress their runway Style show at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. While the performers are used to getting all the attention they were merely poised as accessories, highly paid, well dressed accessories to the new designs for 2008 coming down the GM runway.

Those in attendance for the GM Style runway show were Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock, Maroon 5, Jeff Gordon, Adrian Brody and the Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick (who was not hurting for Style points himself).

The Auto Industry has been using star power for decades to draw the buyers eyes to their new designs, but GM’s Style show raises the bar beyond flashy unveiling’s and smokey entrances. Below are two galleries of some of what you might have seen.

Back in the 1980’s when the small car or compact car segment was booming what you found were commonly stripped down econo-boxes. As North America moved on to SUV’s and worked to negate its compact past Europe was moving forward and melded the small car segment into a sophisticated and high selling class of vehicles. With the Verve 4-Door Sedan Concept Ford is attempting to introduce some of that European class into the newly revived small car segment in North America.

The Verve Concept is built off a sharing between Ford North America and Ford Europe to bring one of its winning designs over to America. Ford has thus brought to the 2008 Detroit Auto Show their 4-Door Verve Concept that is intended for North America and their European 3-Door hatchback Verve.

After five years without a car, I decided late last fall (2007) that I had to have a vehicle. For various reasons, including a planned move to Toronto in a few months, it has become a necessity to have a car. I also missed not seeing a lot of friends, all of whom are car-less and live in a nearby city. I had to give my outdoor photography sessions and much more. So after so long without, I gave in and got a vehicle shortly after New Year’s Day. If you’re in the position of buying a new car, regardless of your reasons, here are a few tips.

1. Decide on budget beforehand. With all the sexy cars to lust after, it’s easy to get sidetracked. While I love old muscle cars and new sports cars, I’ve never been partial to spending a crapload of money on either. (Though I did spend nearly $600/mth on car payments on each of two Subarus and $600/mth on highway toll fees one year.) I go for form over function. You have to decide what you can afford, and whether it’ll satisfy your needs. When you’re earning the big bucks, you can rethink what you’re driving. (I’m planning my “sports car-driving midlife crisis” for a few years from now.) I’ll admit, I was tempted to go for the 2008 model of the Dodge Caliber SRT-4.

2. Factor in mandatory and incidental costs. It’s easy to forget all the other costs that come as a package when you decide to have a car: monthly car payments, car insurance, driver’s license fees, license plate fees, gasoline, parking, checkups, repairs, emergencies. And with gas prices rising, having a car will be at its most expensive ever in a year or two. (Unless you’re in a high-paying career, fuel efficiency is probably on your mind.)

3. Determine preferred car category. I wanted a hatchback (aka 5-door) because of cargo convenience. I’m planning to move back to Toronto in a few months, and a 5-door will help immensely. I’ve previously had a Mazda hatchback and a Subaru station wagon, but a wagon is more than I need. It’s fact that I would have selected a sexier compact car if I didn’t need the functionality of a hatchback, but I also might have been tempted to spend more money than necessary.

4. Get recommendations. I’ll admit it: I’ve never previously owned a N. American-made car. If I could convince myself that Canadian climate wouldn’t be a factor, I’d get myself a 1969 Mustang. But since it is a factor, I’ve oddly tended towards Japanese models with AWD. (Though I really miss the giant ‘72 Chevy Caprice “boat” we once had in the family.)

The fact that I ended up with a Dodge Caliber SXT this time is not only because of an initial recommendation but also subsequent research. My brother, a longtime car enthusiast who sometimes races formula cars at a track northwest of Toronto, recommend Dodge Caliber for a variety of reasons. (Disclaimer: neither of us work for Dodge nor have any monetary connection.) So if you know someone that can give you a recommendation, use that as a starting point for your research.

5. Research online. Car makers and car dealers are all online now (not so when I bought my last car). So even if you use the local newspapers to find special promotions, go do comparisons online as well.

My brother initially recommended the Dodge Caliber SXT, RT, and SRT-4. I researched these online, along with another 14 hatchback models from a total of about 11-13 car markers. I actually created a mindmap complete with vital info about each model, a picture of each car, financing/ leasing details, and whatever other info I collected. Building a comparison list allowed me to quickly produce a short list of about six hatchback models.

6. Shop around for financing. My shortlist was further reduced when I factored in the base cost of cars with AWD. My previous two cars - both Subarus - were very expensive. Subarus have gone down in price since, but with the fiasco I went through when local Subaru dealership went bankrupt and screwed me over royally, I vowed never to buy another. Most carmakers, including GM (who bought a portion of Subaru), charge at least $21,000 base for a 5-door AWD car. Some don’t offer AWD as an option for 5-speeds or even 5-door cars.

Armed with an even shorter list after my research and when considering my budget, I was left with Dodge Caliber and one of the two 5-door Kia models. But Kia offers better financing options than leasing, and I have no desire to own a Kia when the lease is up. Dodge, on the other hand, had better leasing rates and is putting out a lot of great cars. I also lucked out because the dealer I spoke with, Brent, sweetened everything with a lot of free options. (Brent was truly one of the nicest car dealers I’ve interacted with.)

I managed to get a new car for a very affordable monthly rate, with just $2000 down - which was loaned to me by a family member on the condition that I get only a new car.) On top of that, I managed to get a 27-month option, so I’m not committed to it too long. I’ll be in Toronto long before the lease expires, and if I don’t need a car after that, I’m not stuck with a long lease.

7. Do a test drive. I only ever bought one car without a test drive, but that was because it was a Subaru. Both my brother and mother had nothing but good things to say about their Subarus, and I had to make a quick decision. However, since I prefer 5-speed to automatic, I’ve since learned to do a test drive before buying/ leasing. There’s really little reason not to.

What to Check For During Your Test Drive
If you’re taking the time to do a test drive, why not go in there with a list of things to test for? If you’re committing your hard-earned money for a lease or purchase, be sure you know what you’re getting. I was so excited to have a car after so long that I basically only tested the gearshifting.

1. Blind spots. This is usually the first thing I check for, but I forgot and find that there are some serious blind spots on the Caliber.

2. Dashboard controls. Sounds crazy, but learn where the wiper, defrost, and hazard light controls are before you go out on the road - even before the test drive. (It was snowing heavily when I did the test drive, so I insisted the dealer come along.)
3. Ambient sounds. If you get a sunroof and actually use it, you’ll have to deal with the high decibels of air rushing past. But what does it sound like in the driver’s seat when the roof is closed? What about
4. Handling. Check for how the car handles in both the city and on the nearest highway, if possible. Since I was getting a 5-speed, I also checked the gearshifting and clutch. My father’s research led him to believe that the Caliber’s clutch was “heavy”. I found it to be no different than with my two 5-speed Subarus and the Suzuki compact I’d had before that.
5. Acceleration. I don’t plan to be on the highway a lot, but if you will be, make sure the car you’re getting can cope with traffic along your daily route. Can you accelerate fast enough to merge safely with traffic?
6. Leg room. Don’t just check legroom for the driver but also the passengers. A few days ago, I visited friends I hadn’t seen years. After the fact, I realize that my new car is not comfortable when three people including the driver are around or over six feet tall. Of course, I can’t do anything about it now.
7. Parkability. Something about the design of the Caliber makes me uncomfortable while parking - and that’s regular parking, not parallel, which I’ve yet to try. Obviously, this is something that I should have checked on the test drive. Again, too late.

When you decide on the car that you’re getting, make sure that you’ve either test-driven that model, or that the car you try handles the same way.

 Warner Bros. has announced that the “Powerful” Mach 5 will be on display for all to see at the Detroit Auto Show  in preparation for the movies debut this coming May. The car will be introduced during media week January 13-17th and then during the public showing January 19-21st. So if you hope to get a glimpse of the movie car and you are not in the media be sure to get there that first weekend of the public showing.

The movie Speed Racer, filmed by the creators of the Matrix Trilogy Larry and Andy Wachowski, will reach theatres nationwide on May 9th of this year. Which ofcourse for fans of the Speed Racer series and fans of the Wachowski brothers that might just seem like too long to wait. 
Speaking as a fan I know that I cannot wait to see both the movie in May and the Mach 5 in Detroit.

Thanks for the tip, Ben.

Source[WarnerBros.]

In their efforts to crack down on uninsured motorists administrators in the UK have adopted the policy of crushing cars. Maybe illegal street racers will not feel so alone and picked on now that they have been joined in the crushing by uninsured motorists? Or maybe now they have two reasons to worry if places like California, Canada and Australia adopt this policy as well.

There were 100,000 vehicles impounded by UK police in 2007 for the lack of car insurance. Of those 100,000 45,000 were crushed. Considering the stereotypical condition and characteristics of an uninsured motorists car it can be presumed that those cars that were crushed were deemed unfit for the road. Those of us who live in states that do not have car inspections have seen cars that fit that description.

The Hummer HX has gone from sketch to design to concept and now it is ready to wheel out on the stage at the Detroit Auto Show to show its stuff. Based as an entry-level Hummer and aimed to compete directly against the relatively unchallenged Jeep Wrangler the Hummer HX appears to be intended to rule the trail. Beneath the hood the HX Concept is packing a 3.6 liter SIDI E85 FlexFuel engine that can take both regular gasoline and ethanol based E85. That same engine is producing 304-hp and 273-ft lb of torque with a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission sending that power to all four wheels.

here are those who think of Hummer as a wasteful SUV builder and there are those who love their Hummer and all it provides. The Hummer HX Concept steps a bit out of the typical Hummer mold as it is the smallest Hummer yet designed, has the first FlexFuel standard engine and is designed around an aeronautical theme of light weight materials. While these steps will not earn them the Al Gore Gold Medal for Environmentalism it just might peak the interest of many car/SUV buyers.
Follow the link to read more about the Hummer HX Concept from Hummer themselves and for a Gallery of photos.

Source[Hummer via AutoBlog]

At this years Detroit Auto Show Ford will introduce their new EcoBoost engine technology along with their new Explorer America Concept. With EcoBoost Ford is touting a 20-30% increase in Fuel Mileage and better performance out of smaller displacement engines than they are currently using. With the Explorer America Ford is introducing the consumer to some of the innovative designs that could revolutionize the Ford Explorer.

EcoBoost is Fords economical response to the public’s demand for better fuel economy in their vehicles. While it is not the long-term solution it does provide an affordable solution built upon today’s current engine technology. EcoBoost combines the direct cylinder injection of fuel, turbo chargers and smaller displacement to achieve a 20-30 percent increase in fuel mileage while reducing the engines emissions up to 15%.