Detroit 2012

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) - 'Detroit show' - is January's big auto show. Coverage from our team on the ground at the Cobo is gathered together here.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Detroit, sunny Detroit

13 January 2012

Triple-D week for me, this, first time in Detroit, first time at the Detroit show, first time on Delta. Despite the dire predictions of certain sages I know, it was all good.

DETROIT SHOW: Hyundai Elantra named NA Car of the Year

11 January 2012

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has been named 2012 North American Car of the Year.

Detroit with a difference

11 January 2012

It was Detroit with a difference this year. Different largely because of the weather.

DETROIT: Delphi 'robust' in face of rapidly changing global events: Brown

11 January 2012

Delphi says it is able to react swiftly to the impact of global events such as last year's earthquake in Japan, although highlights the unpredictability of such fast-changing situations.

DETROIT SHOW: Buick Encore previews Opel Mokka

11 January 2012

General Motors' Buick division has revealed the Encore SUV at the Detroit auto show. The little SUV is not only an additional model but previews a Chevrolet to come, as well as the new Opel and Vauxhall Mokka.

DETROIT SHOW: Volvo lauds XC60 plug-in hybrid as '3-in-1'

11 January 2012

When Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation, presented the new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at Detroit this week, he described it as 'actually three cars rolled into one'.

DETROIT SHOW: VW chases segment leadership with Jetta Hybrid

11 January 2012

It already offers four- and five-cylinder petrol engines as well as a 2.0-litre diesel. Now the US market's Volkswagen Jetta is going after leadership of the compact segment by adding a petrol-electric powertrain to the mix.

DETROIT INTERVIEW: Fiat's Marchionne: auto industry needs consolidation

11 January 2012

There needs to be another round of consolidation of the motor industry worldwide or some companies will not survive, according to Fiat and Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne

COMMENT: Designing for youth and unexpected consequences

11 January 2012

General Motors executives from CEO Dan Akerson to global director of youth strategy, John McFarland, to Chevrolet marketing chief Chris Perry have all been consistently on-message this Detroit show - we are going to listen to young potential buyers, the 18-30 millennials, and we are going to engage them and develop the products that excite passion in them for cars again. Or words to that effect.

Detroit Day Two - all done

11 January 2012

Press day two of the Detroit motor show seemed almost as crowded as the first with a number of reveals - including Buick's new luxury compact Encore SUV, Toyota's Prius plug-in, Prius C and NS4 plug-in hybrid concept - and there were still TV crews filming at Toyota and other stands late in the afternoon when I finally, shoe leather wearing thin, called it a day.

Navigating the RenCen

10 January 2012

Out to Delphi's hugely impressive HQ this morning just down the road from where I'm staying in Troy and a chat with its chief technologist Andrew Brown, whose CV and various committee nominations leaves me wondering how he finds 24h in a day.

DETROIT: Combustion engine "around for a long time" - Delphi

10 January 2012

Delphi says performance improvements in the internal combustion engine will see the traditional powertrain remain a powerful tool for some considerable time.

DETROIT SHOW: Denso to create new US$57m Mexico plant

10 January 2012

Denso is to build a US$57 new plant in Mexico to manufacture air conditioning and heating units, with a view to expanding the site at a later stage.

DETROIT SHOW: US consumers regaining confidence: Michelin

10 January 2012

Michelin North America says US consumers are regaining confidence after a period of almost unprecedented economic challenges.

DETROIT SHOW: Chevrolet paints target around millennials

10 January 2012

General Motors' Chevrolet division is taking a completely new approach to marketing the brand to young buyers aged 18-30 – the 'millennials'. Two concept coupes unveiled here in Detroit are the first results of a new strategy in which youthful potential buyers are invited to be part of the design process and advertising is heavily skewed towards social media.

DETROIT SHOW: Dodge throws in its new Dart

10 January 2012

Chrysler has unveiled its new Dodge Dart showing that it is moving away from its muscle machines of past decades towards smaller, more economical cars - with the help of the Fiat Group.

DETROIT SHOW: MKZ signals Lincoln relaunch

10 January 2012

The new MKX concept is a good start, but without a detailed plan of where and when Lincoln will be launched or relaunched outside North America, will Ford's luxury division ever become a major premium brand?

DETROIT INTERVIEW: Stefan Jacoby says safety is still in Volvo's genes

10 January 2012

Volvo will not abandon its position as one of the world leaders for automotive safety in its quest to almost double production to 800,000 cars a year and be recognised as a more design-driven brand, says CEO Stefan Jacoby.

DETROIT SHOW: Range Rover Evoque wins NA Truck of the Year

10 January 2012

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) may not have a stand at the Detroit Auto Show, but it did not stop the company making the headlines with the new Range Rover Evoque winning the prestigious Truck of the Year award voted for by US journalists.

DETROIT SHOW: Diesels gain traction in US

10 January 2012

Diesel is no longer a dirty word in the US says Audi chairman and chief executive Rupert Stadler.

Balmy Detroit show hots up

9 January 2012

Compared to last year, the Detroit weather for the 2012 auto show is positively Bahamian, although that didn't stop me havng to scrape the ice off the windscreen this morning.

DETROIT SHOW: US debt measures providing auto stability: Denso

9 January 2012

Resolution by the US Congress of ways to tackle the country's massive debt has provided a more stable environment in which the auto industry can grow, says Tier One supplier Denso.

DETROIT SHOW: Ford predicts US market of up to 14m units

9 January 2012

Ford says it is convinced the US market can reach unit sales of 14m this year as the economy continues to improve.

DETROIT INTERVIEW: General Motors determined to rescue Opel

9 January 2012

General Motors has no plans to give up on unprofitable Opel or axe the UK-only Vauxhall brand, international operations head Tim Lee said in a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the Detroit show on Monday.

DETROIT SHOW: Mercedes-Benz launches lighter SL-Class

9 January 2012

Mercedes-Benz is trumpeting a weight loss of over 100kg for the first new SL-Class in eleven years. The car is 50mm longer and 57mm wider than the existing R230 model.

DETROIT SHOW: Global debuts list [BMW ActiveHybrid 3 & Chrysler 700C added]

9 January 2012

Some additions to our list of concept and production vehicle global premieres that are being revealed at the North American International Auto Show. This year's media preview days are 9 and 10 January, with just-auto reporting live from the COBO Center.

DETROIT SHOW: New Ford Fusion 'points to' next Mondeo

9 January 2012

Ford has revealed the second generation of its Fusion mid-sized sedan at the Detroit motor show. The company says the car 'points to' the next Mondeo, which it confirms as being due for launch in Asia and Europe in 2013.

Detroit Day One

9 January 2012

5.30am local. Memo to self. Do not drink industrial strength American coffee while writing car launch reports just before bed. Memo to Marriott and other fine international hotel chains, any chance of an optional UK-style room tea-making set in lieu of the standard coffee machine?

DETROIT SHOW: Cadillac declares war on Germany

9 January 2012

A roster of top General Motors executives, including CEO Dan Akerson, North America head Mark Reuss, global design chief Ed Welburn and Cadillac marketing VP Dan Butler last night (Sunday, 8 January) launched the Cadillac brand's most serious attempt yet to challenge the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class: the new-from-the-ground-up ATS sedan/saloon.

DETROIT SHOW: Cadillac ATS gets CUE interface

9 January 2012

The new ATS launched at the Detroit show is the latest Cadillac to get CUE that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data. It is designed to be unique for each user and is completely customisable, much like an iPhone, tablet or personal computer home page and icons can even be transferred from the centre display to the instrument cluster in front of the driver with a flick of a finger.

DETROIT SHOW: The excitement builds

8 January 2012

Deputy editor Graeme Roberts is in Detroit for the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and just a wee bit enthusiastic about his first trip to Motown. Blogging begins here.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Delhi, Detroit and all that...

6 January 2012

This short week - we here in England were still skiving off on our Christmas break last Monday while most of the rest of the globe showed up for work - could be referred to the 'DD' period. Stop sniggering, you down the back, I'm referring to Delhi and Detroit. As in motor shows.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Analysts expect Big Three renaissance

6 January 2012

The renaissance of Detroit’s “Big Three” will be on full display at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, according to Edmunds.com analysts.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [updated with Tata Emo, 2013MY Land Cruiser]

6 January 2012

Some additions to our list of concept and production vehicle global premieres that will be revealed at the North American International Auto Show. This year's media preview days are 9 and 10 January, with just-auto reporting live from the COBO Center.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [Volvo concept & Porsche 911 Cabrio added]

4 January 2012

An updated list of concept and production vehicle global premieres due to be revealed on the 9 & 10 January media days of the North American International Auto Show.

DETROIT PREVIEW: AMP to show new Jeep EV at show

22 December 2011

AMP Electric Vehicles will unveil its new Jeep Grand Cherokee EV, which will be introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Lexus LF-LC hybrid supercar concept

22 December 2011

Following the breaking of a media embargo by multiple media, Toyota has issued an image of the Lexus LF-LC, a concept for the forthcoming North American International Auto Show.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [UPDATED]

21 December 2011

An updated list of all the concept and production vehicle global premieres scheduled to be revealed on the 9 & 10 January media days of the North American International Auto Show.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Mercedes-Benz to reveal E-Class hybrids

21 December 2011

The Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E 400 Hybrid will each have their world premieres at January's Detroit auto show.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [UPDATED]

20 December 2011

Just-auto's list of the concept and production vehicle global premieres scheduled to be revealed on the 9 & 10 January media days of the North American International Auto Show.

DETROIT PREVIEW: New Cadillac, new turbo engine

15 December 2011

A new high-performance two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will make its debut in the new Cadillac ATS compact luxury sedan, which will be launched at the 2012 Detroit show next month.

DETROIT PREVIEW: Dodge teases Dart interior

14 December 2011

Chrysler's Dodge brand has continued its series of teaser photos of the upcoming Alfa Romeo-based Dart compact with "a sneak peek into the high-tech, precisely crafted and highly customisable interior" of the new car set for a Detroit show launch on 9 January.