Lexus Canada press release
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2011 – The interior of this Lexus design concept hints at the new contemporary, upscale and uniquely Lexus design direction. Created by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the concept vehicle will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at 1:25 pm Eastern time on January 9, 2012.
I have to admit, there are few things I love more than a tiny, fun to drive car. Mazda is bringing the new 2011 Mazda2 to Canadian showrooms later this Spring and if these three pre production show cars are any indication, this car is gonna be a whole lotta fun! I’d be willing to bet that the 2 will bring lots of traffic to Mazda dealers.
Gallery after the break.
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Subaru didn’t have anything new to show off at Detroit this year, so they brought along the Hybrid Tourer Concept they showed earlier in 2009. Still though, this is a concept that actually looks workable. While I’m not usually a gull wing door guy, I like the look of these and the interior is awesome!
Gallery after the break.
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The Chrysler booth at Detroit was a bit odd, with the Italian laneway up the middle, but perhaps the oddest thing was this great looking car set off in a corner. Ok, so it was a very front corner. That made it even weirder. Why? It was sitting there rotating on a turntable, surrounded by journos, many of whom had no idea what it was. There were no signs, no staff, nothing to indicate what the car was. There wasn’t even any name badges on the vehicle, beyond the Chrysler logos. Those of us who knew, spotted it instantly as a Lancia Delta sporting Chrysler branding.
Great idea, why no info? I asked the PR types at the other end of Mopar city and they just said it was a Chrysler/Lancia Delta “design study” but had no other knowledge of the vehicle. Apparently they didn’t even know it was there until they arrived at the show and there was no info for them either! It seems this great idea, like so many in the auto industry was lacking in execution.
Gallery after the break. What do you think of it?
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A new week and the time has come for another lap around the Canadian auto blogs. First though, I thought I would put up a bit of a challenge. Who can tell me what this race car is? Of course the folks who went to the 2010 NAIAS may have a bit of an advantage as I believe it was the only race car (other than a Patron Highcroft ALMS show car) at the show. Did anyone other than me even notice it was there?
Last week was a bit challenging for automotive events, as the Audi booth at NAIAS was struck by an overhead electrical fire which caused the evacuation of Cobo Hall and the Scottsdale Auction had a bit of a wind problem. On her Facebook page, Nika from Racerchicks said there had been reports that they had been hit by a tornado. The main tent actually ended up on a nearby highway. Philip Powell commented that once the mess was somewhat dealt with, the auction continued on Sunday. Over at Classic Car Adventures, Warwick has gotten his hands on some video of the tent coming loose.
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Few will question that the Cadillac CTS might be the best car Caddy has ever built. In fact, you could pretty much say it is world class. The sedan has won over legions of owners, especially in the wicked CTS-V format. The newly introduced wagon added an even more family friendly element. The only problem is that the intended target market might be more interested in 2 doors rather than 4 or a wagon. The answer? Create a coupe that is every bit as world class as the rest of the family and don’t forget a seriously quick V version.
Cadillac has done just that. The new coupe not only looks stunning, but promises to be an even better performer thanks to less weight and a stiffer chassis, not to mention having better aero.
Fortunately, it isn’t just the journos who feel that way. The readers of The Detroit News have voted and they have awarded the CTS Coupe the Best In Show award. GM did well in other categories as well, with the Cadillac XTS concept winning the Future Fantasy/Concept award and Chevy Volt being named Most Earth Friendly.
More photos and GM Press release after the break.
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One of the most visually striking concepts at the 2010 NAIAS came from Lexus in the form of the LF-CH Hybrid concept. Whether it was the muscular hatch back shape or the striking green gold paint, this machine looks magnificent. Originally shown in the Fall of 2009 at the Frankfurt auto show, the LF-CH shows the direction that Lexus is planning for sport luxury hybrids.
After the break we have more photos and the Lexus press release from Frankfurt with more details.
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The folks at GM fully acknowledge that some things needed to change at GMC. They need new, interesting products that consumers actually want. That means they need to get innovative and create some really different stuff. The Granite concept is different.
Revealed this morning at the North American International Auto Show, this little brick has drawn on industrial influences to create a fun and funky machine that combines style with function. Aimed at an active and youthful demographic, the Granite has unique seating that can be reconfigured to create a long cargo area big enough to hold a mountain bike.
More photos and GMC press release after the break.
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Things will be a little bit quiete here in Driven Wheels over the next couple of days as we prepare to travel to Detroit for the 2010 NAIAS. Once we’re there though, we’ll be bringing you all the news straight from the show floor. New model introductions, interviews and lots of photos!
Got something specific you want to see? Drop us a note in the comments or reach us on Twitter
PeterD: Auto Envy? That would’ve been a good name, but we prefer to go by “Car Envy”. But I’m glad you…
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