Honda is once again placing its collective neck on the line and opening it up out on the hybrid highway with the 2010 Honda Insight, which they debuted at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) recently. When it hits dealerships next spring, we’ll see if they can reach their goal with the intended sale price of under $20,000. If they can do it at that price, I predict these babies will fly out of dealerships like locusts. They will have people re-thinking their decision to buy a Toyota Prius, for instance.

The 2010 5-door, 5- passenger Insight has broader outlines and is being touted as “the most affordable hybrid on the market”. Gas prices went down, but during the scare, people learned that it doesn’t hurt that bad to be a little greener. If Honda can tap into a greener public with less money to spend, they just might have hit the automotive Super Lotto with this one, but only time tell.

The main question is–will people step up the plate and buy these vehicles? Will they even be able to get credit? Do they still have jobs? I mean, who knows what the economy will be like next week, let alone in three months? But if people are looking to save some cash and are genuinely concerned about the environment, this could be a huge winner for Honda.

Honda has some other cool alternative fuel vehicles currently on the drawing board, including another sporty hybrid patterned on their 2007 CR-Z concept coupe; and a gas/electric version of its Fit subcompact.

Photo gallery and press release from Honda announcing the unveiling of the Insight hybrid are below the jump.

(Continued on page 2)

We’re at war in this country right now and I’m not referring to Iraq. I’m talking about China, Korea and Japan. It’s not a war with soldiers and weapons. It’s a battle using designers and engineers. These countries are trying to destroy Detroit by making better, less expensive and greener cars and right now, AND they’re winning!

The Big 3 have no one to blame but themselves. They’ve been selling inferior vehicles to the American people for too long now, and the results are going to be more evident than ever at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit (open to the public) January 17^th through January 25^th), Asian carmakers will be unveiling a plethora of new cars at the show while our guys sit sadly on the sidelines. Sure, we’ve got some new projects that will be presented on the tradeshow floor, but all in all, they’re not going to create the kind of buzz that our foreign competitor’s are generating.

This recession is a good thing, in many ways, because it will force us to build better cars in this country. The Big 3 probably never would have gotten where it needed to be on its own. Now they have no choice.

The main question everyone’s asking is this—can we get these new, innovative cars to market fast enough to offset what I’m calling, “The Siege on Detroit?”

(Continued on page 2)

On Jan. 6^th, Bentley kicked off the New Year with the unveiling of the Continental GTC Speed, a more powerful version of its Continental GTC convertible aimed at attracting younger buyers to the luxury marquee.

This isn’t a car; it’s a rocket. It’s been engineered to achieve 203 mph. If I owned this vehicle I’d lose my license in a month. A new generation of driver wants this type of speed and apparently Bentley is listening in a big way.

The new Continental GTC Speed will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week and will be touted as the most powerful Bentley convertible ever built.

Read the rest of this entry �

Going down swinging, or not dead yet? One or the other (or something I missed) Chrysler will bring three of its EV concepts to the upcoming North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) to make plain the fact that they’re still in this game, and don;t count them out.

Before the proverbial stuff hit the fan in front of congress, Chrysler had a little dog & pony show concerning the possible future of Electric Vehicles (EV) coming from the company. Some of them looked to be quite smart and far along, and Chrysler is looking to bring those cars to the forefront of everyones attention, and (hopefully) put the recent past and financial nastiness out of everyones mind.

Read the rest of this entry �

The auto industry has NAIAS this January in Detroit. But what about an industry tradeshow for those unheralded vehicles whose gas tank you have to fill each time you return it? Wait no more! The European Car & Van Rental Business Expo is slated for September 29 in Hanover, Germany. Yes, this will be the first-ever international auto-industry event dedicated to rental cars, rental vans and rental trucks. Never before has an event been dedicated to vehicles whose parking brakes are often used to halt the vehicle and spin donuts. The three-day event will showcase all the key technologies, services and strategies that are vital for the daily operations of rental car companies. (My guess there will be seminars on how to get rid of that vomit smell before the next rental at 2pm, and how to truly detect if someone smoked in a non-smoking car.) The event will also trumpets a three-day high-level conference, dealing with global, regional, managerial, operational and technical issues delivered by expert speakers drawn from the world’s leading car, van and light truck rental companies. Will there be rental car booth babes who are rented for the day?

How was your experience with the last car you rented? Write a review of a rental car company or read what others have to say by clicking the link below.

Car Rental Company Reviews

If cars could high-five, I would surely be giving the Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO a huuuuuge high-five right now. Mercedes-Benz is speeding way ahead of the pack (in an environmentally-friendly and metaphorically way mind you). Looking like something straight out of Speed Racer, this environmentally responsible electromobility on wheels is being presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And its not just one model Mercedes is trumpeting, but three; each equipped with a different drive configuration–it’s all about your own individual sustainable mobility needs.

So which BlueZERO is for you and your electric drive desires?

Video and more photos after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry �

In the beginning there was the BMW Z4 Coupe. From its automotive loins has spawned its successor: the BMW Z4 Roadster. With a big, fancy coming out party scheduled on January 11th at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, the vehicle’s mantra, “More power, more efficiency, and more comfort.“ (As opposed to BMW’s second mantra choice, “Less power, less efficiency, and less comfort.“)

(more photos of the new Z4 after the jump)

Read the rest of this entry �

In year’s past an unveiling of a company’s new model has been nothing short of something right out of Team America. Flashy lights, lasers, busty booth babes, and heavy metal blaring, have all been components of a press extravaganza for a new model. Because of the state of current business conditions, there will be no flash for Honda at the North American International Auto Show in January. Honda will still be debuting its new Acura and the production version of its Insight hybrid, but it will go on with less fanfare than a flashlight and the uncorking of a bottle of sparkling Costco wine.

“Normally we have a great TV moment with special effects to reveal a new model,” says Chris Martin, a spokesman for American Honda. “That’s a very expensive prospect. Given the economic times, we just didn’t see that as appropriate this year.”

Other auto companies are going to have even less flash than Honda. Nissan North America, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, and Porsche have also dropped out the NAIAS. I’m all one for an auto industry party, but it sounds like the NAIAS could be as festive as a wake.

File this under “Uh-oh!”.

In another worrying sign, and hot on the the heals of Suzuki, Nissan has just announced it is pulling out of the North American International Auto show in Detroit. not only that, they’re also pulling out of the Chicago show too. So that now gives us a list of Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, and Nissan that aren’t interested in showing at Detroit.

What none of these car companies, or journalists have been able to explain is: Why? Why pull out of the biggest car show in the biggest car market in the world?

Some companies have simply scaled back and reprioritized things; a lot of them shuffled big debuts off to the Los Angeles show, but that’s only a half-answer at best.

Frankly, I don’t have a handle on it. It’s not like Detroit is going to disappear. Even in some ultra-free market/Stephen Colbert nightmare, the Earth isn’t going to open up and swallow Detroit whole. Say things get as bad as they could. By this time tomorrow, GM, Ford & Chrysler have completely shut down operations and fired everybody. Sure, huge economic catastrophe, but the city, and the workers and the factories will still be there. Something would be done with them, it’s not like Detroit (and Lansing and Flint et al) would just dry up and blow away like some mining boom down in Nevada, circa 1892.

So, Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, and Nissan, what gives?

Source: AutoBlog

Ford’s Jim Farley lets the world’s media take a look at both four- and three-door Verve body styles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

DETROIT – General Motors will introduce several vehicles among its Cadillac, Saab and Saturn brands at the 2008 North American International Show. GM’s NAIAS portfolio emphasizes design and technology that deliver capability and performance while reducing environmental impact. The show opens to the public on Jan. 19. Read the rest of this entry �

January 14, 2008 – Detroit, MI - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2009 Venza crossover sedan at a press conference here today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Venza will raise the crossover vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan refinement and sport utility vehicle (SUV) functionality.

“The all-new Venza was developed as a vehicle that combines the styling, comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “This winning combination will be ideal for active ‘boomers’ and young couples with small families.” Read the rest of this entry �