Archive for January 13th, 2009

We decided to turn the tables on Max the Beetle, star of Volkswagen’s “Das Auto” ads, and interview him to see what he thinks of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
galleryPost(’vwbeetleinterview’, 3, ”Das Interview’); Ze Das Auto campaign has been a big success, how has this changed things? It’s really saved my life. Ask… »

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volkswagen, European Union, SEAT

Click on image for a hi-res gallery of the Seat León Twin Drive prototype
SEAT has introduced a new concept, based on the current Seat León (which itself has a lot in common with the Audi A3) that sports an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain. The model, called the SEAT León… »

The city of Chicago, Illinois has a long and distinguished musical history. As the largest city in the nation not near an ocean, Chicago has been a defining cultural and musical influence for the entire United States — especially the Midwestern states. In the early decades of the 20th century, a “Great Migration” of poor… »

It’s all well and good unveiling hybrid after hybrid, but cars we want to drive are the fun ones. Here’s the top ten cars from the Detroit Auto Show we most want to drive.
10) VW Bluesport Concept
What’s not to like about a mid-engined European sportscar? The fact that this one will probably return mileage… »

As our time at the Detroit Auto Show nears its end, we’re nervously looking towards tomorrow’s forecast for snow. We’re hoping not to get stuck in the D; have you ever been stranded while traveling?
Tomorrow, the Jalopnik crew will be dispersing to their various locales, some by car to Chicago and some by plane to… »

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, On Two Wheels
Last month in his end-of-year speech, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui vowed that the Japanese company would release an electric motorcycle in 2010. It’s been a few weeks and the import of that announcement has begun to sink in. Honda is the world’s largest cycle manufacturer, so an EV wearing… »

Tonight’s the night where many of GM’s Heritage Center cars will wave goodbye and meet their new owners for the very first time.
We reported last month that GM would be auctioning off a large chunk of its Heritage Center collection at the Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona. For those of you not keeping track, tonight… »

Filed under: Etc., AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show

Click above for a photo tour of the Ecoxperience
There is a special smell coming up from the basement of Cobo Hall. We’re not sure which combination of chemicals and fakery makes up the distinctive odor, but we know that it’s the fault of the “Michigan EcoXperience,” aka the… »

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed finally dropped top and trou at the Detroit Auto Show. We’ve got live shots inside and the crumpets to back them up.
galleryPost(’speedgtcbent’, 8, ‘200 MPH Hairdo Machine’); galleryPost(’bentleycontiGTC’, 6, ‘Bentley Continental GTC’); Seeing the pinnacle of plush ‘vert super cruising, the Bentley Continental GTC Speed, for the first… »

The Detroit Auto Show set the stage for the annual designer-on-designer stroke fest, the 2009 Eyes On Design Awards. We’ve got the results after the jump.
Each year the Eyes On Design committee invites the best-of-the-best to their annual shindig in the lower depths of Cobo Hall. The awards are given to the most impressively designed… »