Ford is looking for an electrifying participation at the Detroit Auto Show and their jump-starting their attendance with the launch of two of its new C-Max variants: the C-Max Energi and the C-Max Hybrid.
The Ford C-Max Energi will be the first-ever production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to come out of Ford and will further strengthen the Blue Oval’s global C-car platform. The C-Max Energi five-passenger multi-activity vehicle will be positioned to post better numbers than another one of the US-based company’s hybrid vehicles, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, widely considered as the most fuel-efficient sedan in the US.
The C-Max Energi will be made available in North America and is expected to be built at the company’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan together with the new Ford Focus and the Focus Electric. Meanwhile, C-Max Energi models headed for Europe will be built at Ford’s production facility in Valencia, Spain.
Details on the 2011 Ford C0Max Energi after the jump.
Next to the Veloster sports coupe, the South Korean company has also brought the Curb crossover concept tot he 2011 Detroit Auto Show. This concept is a preview version for a future model that they say will compete with models like the Nissan Juke. Hyundai expects the production model to debut in the next two to three years.
"We wanted the Curb to be urban tough without looking like a Brink’s truck," said Jason Brown, Hyundai designer. "City driving was going to be its forte, not crossing the Rubicon trail, but we wanted it to have urban armor for daily driving on city streets. It needed to empower its passengers in this setting."
The Hyundai Curb crossover concept is defined by Hyundai’s "Fluidic Sculpture" design language, a design language created to attract younger buyers. Next to the impressive exterior look, the new Curb Concept is also offered with advanced Blue Link and connectivity features against impact and shock.
Hit the jump to read more about Hyundai’s latest Curb concept.
Rumored for quite a few years now, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster three-door coupe has made its world debut at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. With an exterior design inspired by a high-performance sport bike, the new Veloster is a sporty coupe that delivers an impressive 40 mpg and the same functionality as any hatchback coupe out there.
The 2012 Veloster is powered by an all-new Gamma 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, the smallest Hyundai engine to use Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). Delivering an impressive 138 HP, the engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission or an all-new, six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). What’s mpressive about the Veloster is not only the 40 mpg fuel economy, but also its specific output: 86.3 HP per liter, better than any of its competitors.
For anyone that has been waiting for the new Veloster for a long time, the wait was definitely worth it. The equipment list will include technologies that will make the car more fun to drive than any other on the market.
UPDATE 08/11/11: Hyundai has released a fresh new batch of photos for the 2012 Veloster. It has about 30 photos and its definitely well worth the time you spend looking at ’em!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster.
The UK’s Ford Kuga is on its way to its second generation, but before the curtains get drawn back on that model, Ford has decided to preview the future generation crossover (the 2013 Escape in our neck of the woods) with the new Vertrek concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Vertek (Dutch for "departure") was built on Ford’s global C-segment platform, which is the same platform used on models like the Focus, the C-Max, and, of course, the Kuga.
"Vertrek concept is a no-compromise solution we feel utility vehicle customers will embrace around the world," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. "It is a revolution compared to what is typically seen in this segment in North America and is a stylish evolution compared with products outside North America. This new design is sleeker and more fuel efficient and delivers the capability, including people and cargo volume, customers demand globally."
Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Ford Vertrek concept.
Ford has unveiled their first ever fuel-free, rechargeable passenger car at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. In fact, Ford says this will be the first of five total fuel-free vehicles they plan on revealing. The new Focus Electric will be offered in both North America and Europe by late 2011 and is Ford’s response to the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. We knew it would come eventually, we just didn’t they were planning on bringing a whole troop of fuel-free vehicles to go up against the competition.
The new Ford Focus Electric will be launched with a series of new technologies including a unique version of the MyFord Touch driver connect system especially for electric vehicles, a new value charging feature powered by Microsoft, and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that helps plug-in owners control their vehicles remotely.
The model uses a Ford-engineered lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged using the recommended 240-volt wall-mounted charge station (sold separately) or the 120-volt convenience cord that comes with the vehicle. According to Ford it delivers a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than the Chevrolet Volt.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Ford Focus Electric.
Chevrolet first used the Z-Spec name at the 2010 SEMA Show where they revealed the Volt Z-Spec, the Spark Z-Spec, and the Cruze Z-Spec. Continuing their use of the name at the Detroit Auto Show comes the new Sonic Z-Spec Concept. Not many details have been revealed on the concept as of yet, but Chevrolet has confirmed that it showcases a family of factory-engineered accessories and the best of the aftermarket under a single design theme.
The concept’s exterior is distinguished by a massive rear-deck spoiler, an orange paint scheme, and eighteen-inch multi-spoke BBS wheels. The interior is also defined by the same orange color scheme, as well as new Recaro seats covered in tan leather. Other minor adjustments for the inside include a billet shift knob and flat-bottom steering wheel cap.
The powertrain for the concept is still being kept under wraps, but we expect it to carry the same 1.4L turbo engine with maybe some tweaks here and there. We do know that Chevrolet has added a new K&N filter and Borla exhaust to help bump up whatever output the concept is delivering.
The European market has proven to be a moneymaking investment for the Volkswagen Passat, but in the U.S., the sedan has not seen impressive sales numbers. This could very well be the reason Volkswagen has unveiled the 2012 Passat at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show just after revealing their 2011MY sedan just a few months ago at the Paris Auto Show. Known as the NMS until just recently, the 2012 Passat will go on sale in mid-August, and is rumored to be priced under $20K.
US customers will get to choose from three equipment lines - S, SE, and SEL - and three different engine options. These options consist of two gasoline engines and one diesel, with power ranging from 140 to 280 HP. All of them will be offered with a standard dual clutch transmission (DSG). Volkswagen has announced that, with the new Passat, the diesel engine will be able to deliver an impressive 43 mpg.
Hit the jump to read more about the U.S.’s 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
And you thought gullwing doors were just for supercars and time-traveling vehicles of the Back to the Future variety.
Korean automaker Kia is attempting to break that mold with the KV7, a crossover concept that uses the growing fad of gullwings by incorporating them into a vehicle that’s scheduled to make its debut at the North American Auto Show in January.
Details on the car will be revealed in the days leading up to the auto show, but the concept is just a small taste of what to expect from Kia – and to a bigger extent, it’s Korean brother from another mother, Hyundai – as it attempts to expand its line-up and do away with it’s old conservative perception. Moving forward, the KV7 is the first step in Kia’s attempt to release cars that put a premium on style and quality.
Though it’s scheduled to debut in concept form in Detroit, there’s no telling whether the production version – if it makes it there – will be identical to what the concept is going to look like. We’re not overly optimistic about it – especially those gullwings - but we still have to give credit to Kia for releasing production vehicles that first made headway as concepts. These include the Soul, the Sportage, and the Forte Koup, which bore some striking resemblances to their concept forms.
Nevertheless, Kia is poised to make a pre-emptive strike on the industry in 2011 with the KV7 Concept. It’s a good move for a brand that’s looking to make some serious headway in the coming years.
UPDATE 01/09/11: Days ahead of its major debut at the 2011 NAIAS, Kia has just revealed the first teaser photo of its new concept crossover, the KV-7. Not much can be derived from it except an image of what looks to be an oddly configured headlight with lights that look more like teeth. Apart from that we can also see one side of the front bumper that looks to have come with its own set of lights. Check it out in the gallery!
The 2011 Detroit Auto Show won’t be just about introducing cars and concepts to the public. While that aspect will take up most of the event’s time, there will also be a number of side events that promise to keep the show as interesting as it can be.
One of the events that’s scheduled to take place is a public demonstration by Ford where a group of engineers from the Blue Oval will tear down an F-150 EcoBoost engine. The whole episode will involve the engine being stripped down to its individual parts where it will then be analyzed to see the importance of each individual part that comprises the EcoBoost engine.
The engine that will be torn down by Ford engineers will be a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that can be found in the 2011 Ford F-150 pick-up. Although the engine is relatively new, Ford has simulated it to have more than 160,000 miles of wear and tear on it, which in real life form, translates to a usage time of somewhere around 10 years.
Be sure to check out this special Ford event at the Detroit Auto Show where it will take place at the Ford stand on January 15th at 11 a.m. If for nothing else, it should give us a better idea of the capabilities of the company’s EcoBoost engine.
With a relatively short history (it was launched in 2004 as a 2005 model), the Chrysler 300 has never been the most successful model on the market. It would make sense for Chrysler to give it a solid kick in the pants as it heads out the door, but instead, they have decided to give the sedan one last chance. It’s time for the 300 to fish or cut bait, and Chrysler is hoping for the former with some exterior and interior updates, as well as some engine mods. The Chrysler 300 will make its official debut in 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show with sales to begin later in the year.
As usual, the 2011 Chrysler 300 will be offered in four models: Touring, Limited, 300C, and 300C AWD. An SRT8 version will be revealed in late 2011 as a 2012 model.
Update 01/07/2010: Just before its official launch at the Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler has announced pricing for the new 300. The standard model is priced from $27,995, while the Limited Edition’s prices go up to $31,995. The 300C version goes on sale at a price of $38,995 and the 300C AWD at $41,145. They’ve also released more images for the updated sedan which we’ve added to the gallery. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the future Chrysler 300.
