Evelyn Kanter Eco Report » Detroit Auto Show

Audi Wins Top Auto Show Awards

Evelyn Kanter — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:56:54 +0000

2010 Audi A8

The Audi brand is in the fast-lane, for sure. Audi models have been sweeping awards at recent auto shows. Let’s start with the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, now underway.

The all-new 2011 Audi A8 luxury performance sedan took top honors in the prestigious EyesOn Design awards, which recognizes — you guessed it — design. The A8 is a [...]

VW 45mpg Hybrid Coupe is a Winner

Evelyn Kanter — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:28:55 +0000

VW Compact Coupe Hybrid

The new VW hybrid compact sports coupe unveiled this week at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show has received a best in show award from AutoWeek. The car is much better than its name, which is Volkswagen New Compact Coupe, or NCC.

Every year, editors from AutoWeek search the halls of the world’s biggest [...]

Toyota Hybrid Minicar Concept Intro at Detroit Auto Show

Evelyn Kanter — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:14:12 +0000

Toyota hybrid concept minicar teaser photo

Green cars were the big news at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and the Los Angeles Auto Show in December 2009, and the expectation is that hybrid cars, plug-in electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell cars will be making headlines at the important Detroit Auto Show in January 2010.

The rumor is that Toyota will introduce a hybrid mini-car. Why else would they release teaser photographs — a fender here, a hood there.

According to CNET, this will be a new Toyota model, not a hybrid version of one already on sale.

First Electric Smart Car Delivered to Customers in Germany

Evelyn Kanter — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:31:46 +0000

SmartforTwo plug-in electric minicar

Getting smart: The first plug-in electric Smartfortwo minicar has been delivered to customers in Berlin, close to the Stuttgart home of its parent company, Mercedes-Benz. The first two owners — an artist and a dental technology company executive — currently own the regular gas-powered Smartfortwo.

The compact two-seater is the first emission-free vehicle in the world with state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology plus an intelligent charging management system on board. The batteries are from electric sportscar manufacturer Tesla Motors, which Mercedes parent Daimler bought a piece of in 2009 to produce and market electric cars together.

SmartForTwo images: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes is calling the plug-in Smartfortwo an ED, for electric drive, rather than EV, for electric vehicle.

The on-board electronics on the electric Smartfortwo has a unique new information feature that allows real-time exchange of information with the owner by iPhone, Blackberry or other smartphone.

Here’s how it works:

BMW to intro plug-in electric coupe at Detroit Auto Show

Evelyn Kanter — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:42:44 +0000

BMW 1-Series ActiveE electric concept car

BMW is unveiling a fully-electric compact coupe at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2010. The concept BMW 1-Series prototype is called the Concept ActiveE.

The BMW 1-Series electric concept will have lithium ion batteries, and the packs are placed in the spot a conventional drive train would be in a conventional gas or diesel BMW.

Here’s a teaser video: