auto show

  • '2 Dudes' see big trends at the Detroit auto show

    Freezing weather aside, we did encounter a couple big trends at this year’s show, as Rick Newman and I discuss in the video above. From Chevy (GM) teasing the new Silverado only weeks before the show to Ford (F) debuting the new midsize Ranger on Sunday night and Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) busting out its new 2019 Ram full-size pickup, it was all-truck, all the time. The 2019 Ram 1500 debuted at this week’s 2018 Detroit Auto Show with a new look, its first hybrid system, and more tech than ever.

  • Charlie Sheen’s Saucy Fiat Video Canned After HIV News

    Despite generating plenty of buzz with an earlier commercial for the Italian brand, Fiat has decided to put in the “drawer” a commercial it was putting together for the new Fiat 124 Spider that featured legendary Hollywood “bad boy” Charlie Sheen. A still-incomplete video featuring Sheen driving wildly in the new roadster was played for several dozen reporters during a sneak preview of the new Fiat 124 Spider at parent Fiat Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan on November 3rd.

  • A Car Shopping Guide to the Los Angeles Auto Show

    There is no better place to shop for a car than an auto show. Every nameplate from every brand is available for you to touch, sit inside and, in some cases, test drive without a sales person leaning over shoulder or telling you he’ll be right back after he talks to his manager. Don’t misunderstand me, the goal of the Los Angeles Auto Show remains to move metal, but it does it with more honey and fewer sticks. During the media days, carmakers debuted 50 vehicles during 26 press conferences.

  • Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept Previews What’s Next

    Sometimes concept cars show off a whole new direction for an automaker. And sometimes, as with the Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept unveiled in Los Angeles, they’re just the metal-and-rubber version of a movie trailer. What you see is what you get—a sleeker, yet randomly chiseled take on the current popular Impreza small car. Built from a new corporate chassis, and slightly longer wheelbase and slightly shorter overall body, this look will be translated into a road-ready version within a couple of years.

  • 2017 Hyundai Elantra Revealed, Bidding For Cool Points

    The popular compact gets a thorough reworking, but does it get any hipper?  In the hierarchy of cars people think of as hip, the Hyundai Elantra comes up empty. Its chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, used phrases like “dynamic wheel arches,” “signature hexagonal grille,” and, of course, “striking vertical LED running lights.” You’ll also be pleased to know that the center stack is angled toward the driver at “precisely seven degrees.”  Schreyer also said the new Elantra has a “sportier character, like a coupe.

  • 2016 Nissan Sentra Levels Up In Style, Not Price

    Small cars have been in something of a slump, as low gas prices lead people toward new small SUVs instead. Yet automakers have been updating their compact offerings at a quick clip, the latest example being the 2016 Nissan Sentra. While not an all-new chassis, the refereshed Sentra looks far more like its Altima and Maxima stablemates, especially with the LED front headlights and styling lights available on higher trims. It’s the interior and technology where Nissan makes the most changes; the redesigned dash looks far more welcoming than the current model, while the in-dash entertainment adds Siri hands-free as an option.

  • Fiat 124 Spider Reborn—Via Mazda—At Los Angeles Auto Show

    It’s taken 50 years, but another spider is on its way, as Fiat unveiled the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday. The new Spider will mark the first new vehicle for Fiat in North America that does not have the 500 nomenclature.

  • 2016 Honda Civic Coupe: First Look

    Following the unveiling of the 2016 Civic sedan, Honda has revealed the coupe version at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show–and like the four-door it’s a substantial upgrade compared to its predecessor, with new, more powerful engines, a sportier chassis and greater interior volume.

  • Toyota Envisions “Wall-E” As A Car

    Typically concept cars must retain some link to reality—a subtle hint at a future design language; an innovative powertrain or technology; maybe a preview of an upcoming new model. Toyota’s new Kikai, revealed ahead of its Tokyo motor show debut, is not one of these cars. And that’s why we love it. There’s nothing relevant about this concept.

  • Cars of the future will be safer and more connected

    Are self-driving cars the future? They very well could be. Still, you shouldn't expect to see Mercedes' F 015 and other similar prototypes on public roads anytime soon. To learn more about this and the future of the car industry, we took to the New York Auto Show to speak to representatives of some of the largest manufacturers in the world -- Ford, Nissan, Honda, Jaguar and Chevrolet. While most of these companies already have autonomous projects in the works, they all agree that vehicles won't look terribly different over the next five to 10 years. In the near-term future, the focus is to keep drivers safe and make it easier for them to stay connected to the outside world. The plan is to bring more digital safety features to cars, and for smartphones to work better with infotainment systems. Simply put, it's all about efficiency -- for now, anyway.

  • The most beautiful cars at the New York Auto Show

    There are a lot of vehicles at the New York International Auto Show, naturally. This year, though, the prominent theme for carmakers, both from the US and abroad, seemed to be bright colors and concept projects. And that is, after all, what auto shows are essentially about. From the new Honda Civic to the Audi A8-esque Lincoln Continental, there's no doubt that manufacturers aren't afraid to push the envelope and, in the case of the latter, even borrow some design elements from top-tier competitors. One thing is for sure, however: Many of the rides at the event don't need Xzibit to show up and make them stand out. So, with that in mind, here are some of the best and most impressive cars from the 2015 New York Auto Show.

  • Inhabitat's Week in Green: Passat BlueMotion, jellyfish drones and a pig-cloning factory

    Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. The North American International Auto Show kicked off last week in Detroit, and Team Inhabitat went to the Motor City for an early look at the industry's eco-friendly offerings. Topping the list at this year's show is Ford's C-MAX Solar Energi, a hybrid electric car with a set of high-efficiency SunPower photovoltaic panels installed on its roof. Also in Detroit, Audi unveiled its Allroad Shooting Brake Concept, a compact plug-in hybrid that's designed to handle "light off-road conditions." And Volkswagen showed off its new Passat BlueMotion concept, which boasts the highest highway fuel economy rating of any non-hybrid mid-size sedan. Auto companies have good reason to be bullish on eco-friendly cars -- just ask Tesla. The electric automaker recorded its highest sales figures in history in the fourth quarter of 2013. But despite recent advances in fuel efficiency, a new University of Michigan study makes a case for ditching personal cars altogether, proving that cars are the most inefficient form of transportation.

  • Garmin partners with Suzuki for company's first in-dash infotainment system

    Sure, the portable GPS may still have a home among multi-car families, or drivers that have yet to make the jump to a smartphone, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the dedicated device's share decline over the next few years. At the same time, in-car infotainment systems are clearly gaining in popularity, so it only makes sense for one of the world's largest handheld GPS makers to make the jump to in-dash. Garmin's partnering with Suzuki for its first factory-installed infotainment system, which includes a 6.1-inch "high-res" touchscreen, a CD player and AM/FM radio, internal flash memory, along with USB, AUX jack and Bluetooth connectivity. The voice control-enabled system also includes backup camera support, Pandora integration and an SD card slot for loading updates. One benefit of vehicle integration is access to the car's speed sensors, allowing the GPS to follow along accurately when it doesn't have a signal, such as in enclosed areas or tunnels. You can also use Garmin Smartphone Link to access traffic, weather and fuel price info. The in-dash system will ship with most American 2013 model year Suzuki vehicles, along with select cars sold in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Russia. I'll also be on display at Suzuki's New York Auto Show booth next week, if you happen to be planning a trip to the Big Apple.

  • Inhabitat's Week in Green: Detroit Auto Show, solar plants and hydrophobic nanocoating

    Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week Inhabitat hit the streets of Detroit to bring you the hottest hybrid vehicles and electric cars from the 2012 North American International Auto Show! We saw automakers unveil scores of sexy supercars like the Lexus LF-LC coupe, the Chevy MiRay, and the NSX concept hybrid, and we also showcased more realistic street-ready vehicles like Ford's Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, VW's brand new hybrid Jetta, and Via Motors' VTRUX extended-range EV pickup. We also peered into the future of sustainable transportation as we brought you the finalists in Michelin's city car design challenge, we learned that the world's largest driverless personal transit system is set to break ground in India, and we saw the UK green light the first phase of its new HS2 high-speed rail line.It was also a bright week for alternative energy as MIT scientists discovered a way to make more efficient solar plants modeled after sunflowers and Sweden announced plans for a massive 700 megawatt wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Meanwhile, we learned that Rwanda's poo-powered prisons are able to produce 75% of their power from human waste, we showcased plans for an energy-generating rolling suitcase that charges your gadgets, and we saw the launch of several shining solar-powered devices - OLPC's XO3 tablet computer and the sun-powered Solarkindle e-reader cover.In other news, this week we rounded up our favorite eco gadgets from CES 2012 - including a hydrophobic nanocoating that makes any gadget completely waterproof. We also saw 200 Chinese works construct a 30 story prefab building in just 15 days, and we watched superman fly across a cute animated LEGO TV. Finally, we brought you the latest and greatest developments in wearable technology - including a set of smart sunglasses that merge virtual information with the real world, a set of bone-conducting earphones, and a set of motorized skates that can be attached to any boring old pair of shoes.

  • Nissan Leaf Nismo RC swaps basic comforts for a carbon fiber body and some racing good looks

    Electric vehicles may have that instant torque thing going for them, but they're still a bit behind when it comes to giving heart palpitations to those diehard petrolheads. Hoping to change that perception, Nissan is setting up to unveil a brand new concept vehicle, dubbed the Leaf Nismo RC (that stands for Racing Competition, not "radio-controlled"), which strips the one-size-fits-all Leaf down to its constituent elements. The drivetrain is still 100 percent electric, however it's now powering the rear wheels instead of the front, while things like the rear seats, trunk, audio system, carpeting, and navigation have been completely removed. A carbon fiber chassis helps the Nismo RC keep weight down to 2,068 pounds (938kg), equivalent to just 60 percent of the original Leaf's heft. Yes, the Leaf is now lighter! In performance terms, you're looking at a car that can hit 62mph within 6.85 seconds, max out the speedometer at 93mph, and last a terrifying 20 minutes under racing conditions. This prototype vehicle will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show and will thereafter help Nissan research better aerodynamics and, presumably, slightly better energy efficiency.

  • Chrysler Finds It Can Be Profitable Selling Fewer Cars

    Unlike its domestic rivals, Chrysler Group isn't expected to report a profit for 2010. But the smallest of the Detroit Three has made substantial strides in turning around its business, including lowering the number of vehicles it needs to

  • Ford Details Plans for Its Lincoln Reboot, Chrysler Talks Trucks

    As the U.S. auto market regains its footing, domestic carmakers are committing to building new models to appeal to broader swath of the American driving public. Ford Motor (F) and Chrysler Group both announced plans Tuesday at the North American

  • Fiat Boosts Stake in Chrysler to 25% After Hitting Business Milestone

    Italian automaker Fiat increased its stake has in Chrysler Group to 25% after the U.S. automaker met a key business-performance goal, the company said Monday during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Chrysler's decision

  • Ford Expected to Hire 7,000 in the Next Two Years

    Another sign that the U.S. auto industry is bouncing back is news that Ford Motor Co. is expected to announce, later today, that it will be hiring 7,000 employees over the next two years. That announcement, reports The Wall Street Journal, will

  • BMW to use iPads for specification panels at American auto shows

    At this week's South Florida International Auto Show in Miami, BMW is debuting some new interactive technology that will be appearing at other shows over the coming weeks. The traditional static specification panels that appear next to all the fancy new cars at auto shows are being replaced by mounted iPads. The limited space on a show floor means that automakers can't show every available color and option combination. The iPads will allow visitors to use the same configurator found on the BMW website to see what combinations are available and build and price their own favorite. Visitors can enter their contact information for a call from a local dealer or to schedule a test drive after the show. Text of the BMW press release follows. %Gallery-106878%