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Detroit 2010: Detroit show car Audi E-tron, Bluesport Goes Electric

Audi e-tron Detroit Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Right now Audi is heavily pushing diesel as the answer to reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions but down the road we'll be seeing both hybrid and electric options from the German brand as well. Last fall at Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi debuted a battery powered supercar based on the R8 and dubbed E-tron. For this weeks Detroit Auto Show, the E-tron name is back as is the lithium ion battery pack.

This time around the sports car is significantly smaller and only features two electric motors driving the rear wheels instead of four like the last concept. The new concept is almost the same size as last year's Volkswagen Bluesport roadster concept and may be based on the same platform. The concept again demonstrates that a car doesn't have to be dull to be green. The new E-tron gets to 62 mph in just 5.9 seconds from a standing start and is claimed to be able to about 155 miles on a full charge of its battery. While Audi plans to build some production examples of the original R8 based E-tron in 2012, there has been no announcement about this smaller model.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Audi e-tron Detroit Concept

[Source: Audi]

Tags: audi, audi detroit showcar e-tron, Audi E-Tron, Audi e-tron Concept, AudiDetroitShowcarE-tron, AudiE-tron, AudiE-tronConcept, Detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, Detroit2010, DetroitAutoShow, electric sports car, electric sportscar, ElectricSportsCar

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Detroit 2010: Cadillac XTS Platinum Plug-in Hybrid Concept Previews New Flagship

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Cadillac XTS Platinum PHEV concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the past decade the effort to remake Cadillac into a modern luxury brand to compete with the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz has only been partially successful. The Escalade and CTS have been hits but the Cadillac has no smaller high volume model to compete with the 3 series and the larger STS and DTS are on their way out. The first phase of Cadillac's effort to flesh out the lineup debuts in Detroit today in the shape of the XTS concept.

The XTS is currently a concept but it's expected to go into production as a flagship in early 2012. Its front styling draws heavily on the 2003 Sixteen concept but instead of a massive V16 engine, the new car gets a direct injected V6 and a plug-in hybrid system. The hybrid system is based on the two-mode hybrid technology available in GM's full-size SUVs and pickup trucks but modified for installation in a car. The nickel metal hydride battery is replaced by a lithium ion pack that allows more electric-only or electrically boosted hybrid driving. The plug-in hybrid was originally planned to debut in the now canceled Saturn Vue in 2011 but will now instead go into one of GM's premium vehicles. The most likely candidates are either the XTS or the SRX crossover from Cadillac.

Gallery: Cadillac XTS Platinum concept

[Source: General Motors]

Tags: cadillac, cadillac xts, cadillac xts platinum concept, CadillacXts, CadillacXtsPlatinumConcept, Detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, Detroit2010, DetroitAutoShow

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Detroit 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, serious speed and style

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Cadillac debuted the production version of its sexy new CTS coupe. That version will be quick thanks to its 305 horsepower direct injected V6 but it will be left in the dust when the CTS-V coupe arrives next week. The new V melds the fastback two-door body shell with the immense LSA V8 engine from the existing CTS-V sedan. The supercharged 6.2-liter produces 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque. Those of the kind of numbers that will help CTS-V run away and hide from the likes of the BMW M6 and the Mercedes-Benz AMG E63.

Any car that can get to 60 mph in the 4 second range and hit 190 mph needs serious stopping power and suspension capabilities. The CTS-V coupe features the same kind of Brembo brakes you'll find on a Ferrari, serious grip courtesy of Michelin and seating by Recaro. The CTS-V goes on sale this summer.

[Source: Cadillac]

Tags: cadillac, Cadillac CTS, cadillac cts coupe, Cadillac CTS-V, cadillac cts-v coupe, Cadillac CTS-V motor LSA, Cadillac CTS-V V8 LSA, CadillacCts, CadillacCts-v, CadillacCts-vCoupe, CadillacCts-vMotorLsa, CadillacCts-vV8Lsa, CadillacCtsCoupe, Detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, Detroit2010, DetroitAutoShow

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Cadillac To Reveal New Flagship and CTS-V coupe at Detroit

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Next month at the Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac will be showing off two new cars, a high performance coupe and a new flagship. The new CTS-V coupe is the only publicly confirmed for production. The standard V6 powered CTS coupe debuted earlier this month at the LA Auto Show and the V adds the fabulous 556 hp supercharged V8 from the CTS-V sedan.

The second car which is billed as a concept for now will likely become a production reality in 2011. Cadillac showed the flagship concept dubbed XTS to media last August after GM emerged from bankruptcy. The teaser photo above provides a look at the front corner. The rest of the car is inspired by the Sixteen concept of several years ago. The hood of the XTS is much shorter than the Sixteen which is concieved around a proposed new V16 engine. GM has not said what engine will be in the XTS although a turbocharged and direct injected V6 is much more likely given current economic realities. The XTS is expected to sport all wheel drive.

[Source: Cadillac]

Tags: cadillac, Cadillac CTS, cadillac cts coupe, Cadillac CTS-V, cadillac cts-v coupe, cadillac xts, CadillacCts, CadillacCts-v, CadillacCts-vCoupe, CadillacCtsCoupe, CadillacXts, Detroit, Detroit 2010, detroit auto show, Detroit2010, DetroitAutoShow

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Henrick Fisker Drops the Top on Green Luxury Motoring in Detroit

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Click the Fisker Karma Sunset concept for a high res gallery

Detroit MI in January is not generally the kind of place you associate with open top motoring. In fact 9 inches of fresh snow the day before the press previews started were followed by temperatures dropping to near zero by mid-week. Nonetheless veteran car designer Henrick Fisker showed off the production version of his plug-in hybrid Karma sport sedan and a new concept for an open-top version to follow up in 2011. The Karma and Karma Sunset concept are targeted at those who are tired of rolling up to award show red-carpets in a lowly Toyota but don't want to give up their "green cred."

The Sunset draws on the styling themes that first appeared on the Karma when it debuted at last year's Detroit Auto Show. In either sedan and convertible variations, the cabin is pushed well toward the back with the classic long hood proportions and voluptuously curved fenders. Fisker's cars are propelled by an extended range electric drive system not unlike that in the upcoming Chevy Volt, but with much more power. The Karma is claimed to be able to go 50 miles on a charge of its lithium ion battery before the 260 hp turbocharged engine starts up to recharge the battery.

Inside, the green luxury theme continues with wood trim exclusively from salvaged trees that are fallen from age or fire or recovered from lakes. The rest of the interior can be trimmed out in either leather made with so-called sustainable processes or a special fabric made from bamboo fibers which is remarkably soft in spite of its source. The Karma sedan is available for pre-order now at a starting price of $87,900. Deliveries are expected to start late this year.

Update: There is an interview with Henrik Fisker at Green Fuels Forecast

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Fisker Karma

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Fisker Karma Sunset concept

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Maserati Unveils Quattroporte Sport GT S

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Maserati plans to unveil its stunning new Quattroporte Sport GT S (above), its most powerful luxury sedan ever, at next month's Detroit Auto Show. With all the buzz about the upcoming Lamborghini Estoque and Porsche Panamera, Maserati's sexy beast is a timely reminder that the Italian marque is the one to beat when it comes to heart-stopping four-doors. The Quattroporte Sport GT S boasts 433 HP, a 0 – 60 time of less that 5.5 seconds, a throatier exhaust, and a leaner, meaner look in general. It's expected to cost about $140,000. The Quattroporte's automotive heritage dates back to the 1960s when the Aga Khan ordered a stately but sporty Maserati sedan, which became the prototype for the vehicle.

Tags: Aga Khan, AgaKhan, Detroit Auto Show, DetroitAutoShow, Maserati, Maserati Quattroporte, MaseratiQuattroporte