General Motors has been a little late to the hybrid party. Toyota and Honda have eaten GM's lunch when it comes to gas-electric hybrids. So what does the world's largest automaker do? Go beyond conventional hybrid technology with the electric Chevy Volt Concept. And what does Ford do? Bite back a couple hours later.
The true importance of the Detroit show is that it is an accurate indicator of mood, and that mood has, basically, not been good. PM's senior auto editor checks in with the pleasantly surprised GM, the subdued Daimler Chrysler and the forced-smile Ford — where someone is ...
While Dodge executives paraded the company's latest NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers across the stage, PM gets its eyes on the new Dodge Avenger, then sails off into the sunset.
Chevrolet accepts the challenge of Camry and Accord in the midsize sedan market with an all new Malibu for 2008, offering more expressive styling on completely new sheet metal—plus a number of important technical, comfort and safety features.
But our DaimlerChrysler buddy said, “You can expect the Trailhawk to follow the same strategy with another new Jeep.” When we asked, “Cherokee?” He just smiled.
Popular Mechanics' Detroit editor, who was honored with a lifetime achievement award at this week's auto show, analyzes day two—and finds out why green activists had GM security worried, again.
Despite all the build-up for Chinese automaker Changfeng's presentation at the Detroit Auto shows, the big news was that there is no news. PM's senior auto editor looks at the wilted auto invasion from China.
The evidence of Jaguar's big shift is seen in the styling of the C-XF concept, a four-door, four-seat sedan that leaps two generations forward in its exterior appearance, but still manages to carry hints of the designs of classic Jaguar sedans of the past.
When was the last time you saw a V8-powered Kia? If you guessed never, you’d be right. This afternoon, Kia showed a 400-hp supercharged concept called the Kue — along with a couple other big announcements.
Mitsubishi showed us the Concept X a couple years back, and we knew the next Evo was right around the corner. The Evo Prototype X unveiled today is as close to production as you can get. When it hits our shores late next year, we suspect an all-new turbocharged, ...
Hyundai has been bragging about its initial quality test scores lately, and this vehicle should help in that respect. Couple that with the longest warranty in the industry, and you’ve got a compelling reason to seek out decent dealer.
Don't be fooled by the rounded shapes and tight contours of the body on the Chrysler Nassau Concept car. In real terms, this is a full-sized car—powerfully equipped enough that it would sit at the top of Chrysler's sedan lines if the company ever decided put it ...
With concept cars like the Jeep Trailhawk, the interest is all in the viewing—checking out variations on the Jeep styling themes of the present, comparing them with possibilities of Jeeps of the future. And with the Trailhawk's exterior, there's a lot to look ...
How does a high-revving 500-plus-hp V10 that promises a top speed of 200 mph grab you? Yeah, we like the sound of that, too. Actually, we really do like the sound of the LF-A. We’d be surprised if we didn’t hear a production announcement sometime this year.
Lexus has never had a high-performance line of vehicles to compete with Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M cars. But that will change very soon. We’ve been spying on this car, referred to as the IS 500, for months as Lexus fine-tuned its handling at race tracks ...
Popular Mechanics' senior automotive editor gives some perspective on a gasless first day in Detroit: domination by local brands—including dueling hybrid concepts from GM and Ford—but a late push from Toyota that might tip the balance of the auto industry ...
After looking at the Ryuga and the Nagare Concept in L.A., it's clear Mazda has a new design direction. Mazda says the Ryuga is a “more realistic” approach to design than the Nagare. So could this gull wing concept represent a glimpse of the next RX ...
Honda is officially calling the Accord Coupe a “concept”. But at the press conference today, senior vice president of American Honda, John Mendel, called the car a “glimpse into the future of the most important car in our lineup.”
Cadillac continues to bring out product calculated to lower the median age of their customers, and the new CTS will certainly not be a car that their traditional, elderly customer base will aspire to. Whether thirty-somethings, or even forty- or ...
Toyota unveiled our favorite car of the show so far, and it's what a 21st-century sports car should look like. The styling is tough, edgy and, for the most part, original. For a brand known for stodgy styling, the FT-HS is certainly a surprise.
Boxy little vans are hip. You can thank the Scion xB for that. Today Nissan unveiled a boxy concept of its own to the world’s automotive press in the Motor City. The Bevel is a cross between a minivan and SUV and has a unique three zone interior.
The QX56 is Infiniti’s largest and most expensive SUV. But the interior furnishings have always fallen a bit short of the best in the segment. Well, when you hop inside the ’08 QX56, you’ll be greeted to a lot of new upgrades inside.
Hall. To help punch home the point that the maker has a plethora of capable all-wheel drive vehicles, including a new GL Class with a Bluetec diesel V8 engine (ostensibly the reason for the press conference), Mercedes turned its entire display ...
Acura’s iconic affordable supercar, the NSX, was never the huge sales success it should have been, and so it died a quiet peaceful death. Enter the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept today in Detroit.
Audi showed an SUV concept that got our attention. How does a clean diesel V12 with 500 hp and 737 lb.-ft. of torque grab you? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
When we first heard Ford was remaking its aging Focus compact sedan we thought, "Finally!" But then we realized it would be on the same old chassis and lost a bit of enthusiasm. Well, after hearing what Ford had to say our interest is piqued ...
There's more to this futuristic Lincoln concept than what you see in its body forms, but the exterior is still the center of attention here, and the styling details tell a lot about what Lincoln has in store for its models of the future.
Looks a lot like the old Five Hundred, right? That’s true, but the new Ford Fusion-inspired grill hides the biggest improvement: more power.
From the folks who started it all, here's the latest version of soccer mom's prime transport, the 2008 version of the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. Both vehicles are new in design inside and out, and share almost all ...
The votes are in, and the biggest automotive awards of the year have been handed out at the Detroit auto show: The Saturn Aura is the 2007 North American Car of the Year, and the Chevrolet Silverado is the Truck of the Year.
GM wanted everyone attending this year's North American International Automobile Show that the key word in that name is "show." So Saturday night, the carmaker started the pre-preceedings with a bang — and some concept cars.
Regardless of how many exciting concepts or new vehicles are introduced at the Detroit show this week, the biggest news may have broken Saturday night: At the annual Road & Travel Magazine’s International Car of the Year awards ...
PM's senior automotive editor looks ahead to this weekend's North American International Automobile Show — one of the great pulse-takers in the industry after a down year.
It was exciting news when GM announced plans for a plug-in hybrid at the L.A. Auto Show, but in order to get the kind of battery capacity needed to support a plug-in powertrain, a lithium-ion pack was a must. Now GM has ...
Once last year's Chevy Camaro Concept was officially green-lit for production, you knew a convertible concept would be right around the corner this year. And, in a couple days, we'll be able to see the new Camaro ...
Dodge drops a new 8.4-liter aluminum V10 engine in the latest version of its super coupe/convertible to deliver 90 more horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration time of under four seconds — not to mention a ...
With so many crossover SUVs today having bland, boring, truck-like interiors, the exciting part of the Rogue to us was the interior. Why? Its inside is designed like a sport sedan—cockpit style.
Jaguars have been retro for far too long, but that’s about to change. The C-XF concept sedan, set to take the stage in Detroit next week, is a clean-slate design for Jag. And we’ve got our fingers ...
Ford has unveiled a concept car with a body that is all sedan and a grille following the company formula of three horizontal bars. Still, there is a certain look of Mustang in its overall ...
Toyota calls this sports car the FT-HS Concept. But this concept hints that a future Supra is indeed in the works—and it's a hybrid.
When a car company that's had only one rear-drive car ever suddenly starts showing rear-drive sedans and sports cars, it may signal a full-scale shift in future vehicle architecture and ...
It turns out there’s plenty of room underneath the XC90 in Volvo’s lineup for an entry-level crossover SUV. Volvo will pull the wraps off this XC60 concept at the 2007 North American ...
