2008 Dodge Avenger

DiamlerChrysler also unveiled the 2008 Dodge Avenger, another vehicle making its North American debut in Detroit. The Avenger, which replaces the Stratus, has the looks of a scaled down Dodge Charger, continuing the aggressive brand identity.

The mid-size 2008 Avenger sedan design features a wide stance, muscular fenders and the signature Dodge crosshair grille. It will share its four-cylinder and V-6 engines with the Chrysler Sebring, shifting through either a four- or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Avenger is the Dodge brand’s first mid-size car to offer all-wheel-drive capability combined with a sport-tuned suspension, performance steering and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control.

From the cluster bezel to climate control knobs, circles are a primary graphic element repeated throughout the Dodge Avenger’s interior which has been upgraded and refined, with space growing to 100.9 cu. ft., an full 7 cubic feet more interior passenger volume compared to the vehicle it replaces.

Four models designations will be offered: Avenger SE, Avenger SXT and Avenger R/T, and the range-topping Avenger R/T AWD powered by a 232hp V-6 and a six-speed automatic appearing shortly after the initial launch.

The 2008 Avenger will become available toward the end of 2007 at a starting price of $18,895, $1,605 lower than a comparable outgoing Stratus. A very competitive price in the most competitive segment of the U.S. passenger car market.

For more pictures of the car click here.

Chrysler Nassau Concept

The Chrysler Nassau concept is the latest incarnation of the ‘shooting brake’ derivation once produced by elite manufacturers and coach builders. The four-door Nassau concept is a luxury four-seat ‘coupe’ — influenced by the Mercedes-Benz CLS — which bears absolutely no resemblance to its mechanical and platform sibling, the Dodge Magnum/Chrysler 300C SRT-8.

The Nassau concept gets its power from the 425hp 6.1-litre HEMI V8 (delivering 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800rpm) sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. The company claims it’s enough to propel the 4500(est.) pound vehicle to 60mph just 5 seconds, reach the standing ¼ mile in 13.5 seconds, and hit a top speed of 165mph. Not bad considering you could also use it to stow rifles for a weekend grouse hunting jaunt or a few sets of golf clubs.

The design is clean and forward thinking, with the wheels mounted far into the corners to create what Chrysler calls a ‘toned stance’. Short front and rear overhangs make the vehicle appear more compact than its 4981mm length would have you believe, and large 10-spoke 22-inch wheels wrapped in 245/40R22 rubber fill the wheel wells. The absence of a centre B-pillar and thin A-pillars improve outward visibility while the roof is adorned with two longitudinally-mounted glass panels to provide entry of natural light.

The design theme is carried over into the interior which combines refinement with function and style. The instrument panel is a showcase for new technologies in data display, personal control interface, and home theatre-inspired entertainment. Gear selections are accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel and the steering wheel incorporates auxiliary paddle shifters. Leathers and fabrics derived from futuristic architectural interiors and inspired by the design of contemporary cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players, seek to present a new world of luxury to a younger, aspiring audience.

Time and public opinion will determine if this car will grace Chrysler showrooms in the future.

Lexus IS-F

2007 marks not only the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Auto Show but also the 19th year that the show has held the ‘International’ title, competing with the likes of Frankfurt, Geneva and London. 19 years ago there were far fewer foreign cars on the showroom floor than there are today. The open and liberal market in the United States has allowed the influx of automobiles from all over the world to be sold provided they meet required safety and emissions regulations. And that’s not a bad thing.

Competition spurs innovation. That’s why Lexus, the luxury division spawned from parent company Toyota, unveiled a new vehicle sporting the ‘F’ designation designed to cater to enthusiasts. The IS-F, set to become the new sporting flagship of the IS model line, was the brainchild of chief engineer Yokihiko Yaguchi who went against company rules and broke the mold. In a bid to make the IS a competitor to its German rivals, Lexus shoehorned a 5.0 liter V8 engine - said to produce an excess of 400hp and more than 350 lb ft. torque - between wider front fenders.

But the large engine with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system clearly wasn’t enough. To get all that power down Lexus also developed the world's first eight-speed direct sport-shift transmission fitted with a torque-converter lock-up control The car is claimed to reach 60 mph from a standstill in under 4.9 seconds.

A car this fast also needs to stop well, so engineers fitted huge Brembo-developed 14.2-inch cross-drilled discs with six-piston aluminum calipers in front and 13.6-inch two-piston cross-drilled discs at the rear. Wrapped around the brakes are BBS designed 19-inch forged alloy wheels built to Lexus specifications and surrounded by high-performance sport tires.

Handling also being a chief concern, Lexus engineers tuned the lesser IS’s double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension which now rides a full inch lower to the ground than the standard car fitted with 18-inch wheels. It is expected to be in dealerships by this time next year.

Click here for more pictures of the car.

Kia Kue concept

Kia Motors caused a stir among the European market when it unveiled the Cee’d small car at the Paris Motor Show last September. Now the company is looking continue its product assault in the United States by branching out into the burgeoning crossover market. The Kue concept is the vehicle they are set to do that with.

Unlike ordinary crossover vehicles, the Kue has been designed as a performance-oriented driver’s vehicle. A supercharged 4.6-liter V8 producing 400hp and 400 lb-ft of twist finds a home under a bonnet. The Kue puts down all of this power via a full-time all wheel drive system which the automaker claims is equally apt on- or off-road.

Built on a monocoque platform that sits on 22-inch tyres, the Kue was developed as an expression of Kia’s global design language. Purposeful and poised, it has a wheelbase of 290cm, and an overall length of 473cm. Draped muscular wheel flares and headlights which extend far into the fenders contrast crisp bevelled sections found elsewhere on the body. A single side door that incorporates a negative skive shape opens scissor style for easy ingress and egress.

Power, responsiveness and handling all take precedence over interior space. A four-passenger seating arrangement and custom-built bucket seats adorn an interior complemented by the use of sophisticated seat and surface materials. Carefully selected materials and textures are vital components to the interior design, and they create an upscale feel that is both modern and inviting. A mid-dark interior theme with highlights was chosen in place of the typical light interior common to many concept cars.

The Kue interior is abound with technology and presents a new perspective of upscale function with an emphasis on comfortable, user-friendly interaction. Features include pad and motion-sensing controls to adjust the audio and climate controls, with the entire system programmable to each individual user. One surface may activate the stereo for one driver or the temperature for another. Rear passengers also have their own, separate interface.

Kia insists the model is purely a concept, though it does hint at the company’s future styling direction.

Honda Accord Coupe concept

Honda‘s Accord Coupé Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the eighth-generation of the North American-spec car, the company’s best selling model in the US.

Stylistically the car is not a great departure on current design trends and it won’t win any medals for innovation. It is, however, a drastic change for Honda. Designers seem to have struck a balance in creating a car which is upmarket, sporty and tasteful, and won’t alienate the Accord’s conservative client base.

The result is a wider stance with a long bonnet, steeply raked glass, and a sloped ‘fastback’ roofline which tapers off into the short rear deck. The design seeks to convey a purposeful, muscular and sporting flair along with an increased level of refinement and style.

The front end features projector beam headlamps — reminiscent of Alfa Romeo’s Brera and 159 models — with a small indicator light trying to fight its way into the cluster. The rear end seems to take styling cues from Toyota’s Scion tC model sold in the US. The narrowed rear fascia, with square taillamps mounted high the corners, features a black lower section below the bumper, attempting to replicate the look of F1 diffusers. This section also houses quad tailpipes, recessed so far into the moulding that they are barely visible. No chrome-tipped eye-catcher coffee cans here, subtlety reigns.

Blacked out windows indicate Honda is still working on the interior bits. It’s a safe bet that the company will move into a bolder styling direction than the characterless design of the current model and incorporate additional technology to take on the competition.

Honda is not very forthcoming in providing details on the power source, other than to say it will be an iVTEC V6 which will boost performance while retaining frugal characteristics through the incorporation of Honda’s next-generation Variable Cylinder Management system. It will likely continue to send power to the front wheels via a six speed gearbox, and may even be offered with Honda’s phenomenal SH-all-wheel-drive system.

2008 Chevy Malibu

General Motors kicked off the third and final day of the North American International Auto Show press preview days. Having won two coveted automotive industry awards for the Chevrolet Silverado and the Saturn Aura, GM also holds the top spot as the largest automaker in the world. If the company continues to unveil stunning new products like the Aura, CTS and Malibu it may well retain that top spot.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is the car the company hopes will knock rival Toyota off the midsize segment pedestal. It has grown more than three inches in length and the wheelbase has been lengthened six-inches over the model it replaces. This increase will provide a more spacious cabin with greater occupant comfort.

The redesign of the Chevrolet Malibu carries a ‘dual-port grille’ in the fascia, what the company says will be the new face of Chevrolet, and twin round taillamps. Careful attention has been paid to detail in creating the Malibu’s exterior, which includes smaller panel gaps.

A 2.4 liter four-cylinder Ecotec with a four-speed automatic and an available 3.6 liter V6 powerplants promise to deliver performance and fuel economy benefits. A technically advanced six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the V6 and can be specified in the four-cylinder model.

The interior features premium materials to convey quality and value, an integrated instrument panel featuring a dual-cockpit design with prominent gauges backlit in blue, and a choice between metallic or wood grain accents.

The new Malibu will be offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ – all with standard head-curtain side air bags and front-seat thorax air bags, OnStar Gen 7 with remote diagnostics, and XM Satellite Radio. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on both the LT and LTZ models, visually distinguished by front fog lamps and LED-lit taillamps.

2008 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac came to the podium in Detroit with a performance recipe of its own. Contrary to common practice the redesigned 2008 Cadillac CTS didn’t increase power with a larger engine but through technology instead.

The new car can either be propelled by the existing 2.8 litre V-6 or fitted with a new 3.6 litre direct-injection V-6 engine, claimed to produce power levels of a V-8 but with better fuel economy. The 3.6 delivers an estimated 300hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque due largely to direct-injection technology which increases power and reduces fuel consumption and hydrocarbon emissions.

The 2008 CTS will be available in both rear and all-wheel-drive configurations and a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Vehicles equipped with the all-wheel-drive system and automatic transmission will also gain a new active transfer case that automatically transfers torque from rear to front or front to rear for optimal traction.

Cadillac’s bold, taut and angular styling direction is continued in this iteration of the CTS, but much of the improvements are below the surface. Engineers implemented numerous tweaks and revisions to the suspension using extensive computer modelling, combined with development driving of prototype cars on racetracks around the world.

The car’s revised chassis includes a two-inch wider track front and rear but the wheelbase remains identical to its predecessor. This translates into better roadholding and grip according to Bob Kotarak, lead development engineer.

The 2008 CTS represents a new design theme for Cadillac interiors, emphasizing technical precision with elegant, hand-crafted details. French stitching is used throughout the interior and the integrated centre stack can be specified in either a satin metallic finish or genuine Sapele wood. Strict attention to packaging, premium materials, surface development and comfort combine to meet the discriminating tastes of luxury performance sedan buyers.

New Chrysler and Dodge Minivans

Chrysler invented the minivan back in 1983 and has seen a lot of competition from foreign rivals. Still Chrysler and Dodge minivans have retained their top spot on the podium, and they don’t intend to give it up. Tom LaSorda, with help from TV chef Bobby Flay, donned an apron at the launch of the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and called the vehicles Chrysler’s “bread and butter”.

There’s a lot to be excited about. Many innovative new features have found their way into the minivans over the years and this fifth generation intends to pick up right where the last one left off. There are 35 new or improved features on what Chrysler like to call a “family room on wheels”, including three distinct seating positions and storage systems.

The newest addition is the new ‘swivel and go’ seating system which offers a second row of seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row. A table can then be placed between the two rows. This system also features storage bins integrated in both the floor of the second row (covered) and on either side of the third row, which can also fold flat into the floor via a one touch power down button, another industry first.

The large center console slides forward and aft and can accommodate anything from laptops to DVDs, which can prove particularly useful considering the dual DVD multimedia entertainment system which is capable of playing different media at the same time.

Both the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan will be offered in five models with three distinct seating and storage systems and three powertrains, including a minivan-first six-speed transaxle.

Camaro Convertible concept

Following from the highly acclaimed Camaro coupe concept unveiled in Detroit last year, Chevrolet will unveil a convertible variant of the car at the 2007 NAIAS. Like the coupe concept, the convertible evokes retro styling of the original car from the late 1960s, a design which - alongside the Ford Mustang - was the quintessential definition of the muscle car.

The Camaro convertible concept mimics the coupe’s exterior proportions but features a bright windshield surround, modified to accommodate the cloth roof. The classic long hood/short deck proportions and a wide track riding on 21/22 inch wheels front and rear accentuate the car’s muscular stance. The ‘halo’ style headlamps and LED taillights are contemporary details, while the rear fender gills and ‘Hugger Orange’ paint pays homage to the classic car offered in 1969.

The interior features a light-and-dark colour scheme with platinum-tone leather and suede-like Alcantara inserts on the seats with black, sculpted seatbacks. The instrument panel, inspired by first-generation Camaros, includes a deep, three-dimensional gauge cluster with white faces and red pointers. The classic design theme is also carried over to the recessed three-spoke steering wheel.

A ‘spine’ motif runs through the centre of the vehicle and on the seatbacks, including a prominent centre console that stretches to the rear seat. The car’s interior trim plates, vents and seat handles are all finished in smoke satin aluminium and a tri-coat platinum paint accents the door and instrument panels to give the car a modern appearance. The billet aluminium shifter and pedals and separate ignition button complete the classic to modern transition.

True to muscle car form, the Camaro convertible concept is powered by a version of GM’s small-block V8 engine, sending power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. A contemporary four-wheel independent suspension system and four-wheel disc brakes are an evolutionary addition and a contrast to the car’s forbears.

Chevrolet expects to begin selling production versions of the Camaro convertible in the US following the launch of the coupe in 2009.