detroit auto show 2011

Auto Show: MINI Paceman Cuts Two Doors Off Countrymen

It's not usual to think of a car priced between $23,000 and $32,000 with options as a luxe car, but MINI changes the rules a little for defining what premium means.

The British brand owned by BMW last year launched the Countryman, a four door design related to the iconic MINI Cooper. At this year's North American Auto Show, the company is showing a "concept" car for a two-door version of the car called the Paceman.

"MINI is certainly premium, if not luxury," says independent marketing consultant Dennis Keene. "What I find so fascinating about MINI as a brand is the way it remains aspirational and legitimate for the person for whom $20,000 or $25,000 is what they can afford, as well as for the Mercedes or BMW owner who just loves the design."

The Paceman, besides having just two doors to the Countryman's four has a gradually sloping roofline. It gives the bigger MINI a sportier look. Power for the Paceman concept comes from Mini's John Cooper Works: a 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine that puts out 211 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque (207 with the "overboost.") It has MINI's ALL4 all-wheel drive system mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

MINI's next vehicles, the Coupe and Roadster, ill debt in 2012. The Paceman, assuming it gets brought to market would likely come after that.

Tags: Countryman, detroit auto show 2011, MINI, MINI Cooper, North American International Auto Show, Paceman

Detroit Auto Show: Maybach on the Bubble

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said this week that the company will decide by year-end the fate of its super-luxury Maybach division.

The line of cars, meant to compete against the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce, has seen its business wither during the economic downturn. "The success or failure of Maybach hardly shows up on our results, but it is something I want to have a decision on by year-end. And everything is on the table," said Zetsche. "Killing it off? "Everything is on the table," Zetsche repeated.

The Financial Times recently reported that Daimler was in talks with British automaker Aston Martin about developing future Maybachs. Such ventures are also among the possibilities.

Maybachs, which start at $366,000, according to Edmunds.com, have been popular with some pro athletes and hip hop moguls. Jay-Z and Russell Simmons are among owners. Jay Leno owns one as well. Golfing great Nick Faldo has been among the brand pitchmen.

The current lineup of Maybachs includes the Maybach 57 and 57S, Maybach 62 and 62S, and the Landaulet.
The Maybach name first hit the boulevards in 1919, but was discontinued when World War Two broke out. Daimler-Benz ought what was left of the company in 1960.

The current-day Maybach made its debut at the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show at the height of the dot-com economy, and went on sale globally shortly thereafter.

Last year, Maybach sold 63 cars in the U.S.

Tags: detroit auto show 2011, Dieter Zetsche, maybach, North American International Auto Show

Detroit Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz 2012 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Coming

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Mercedes-Benz 2012 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Coming

For those who know the pleasures and fuel economy advantages of driving clean-diesel powered cars, Mercedes-Benz is showing a version of its flagship S-Class that will go on sale later this year.

The S350 Bluetec Class is powered by the same 3.5 liter Bluetec V6 engine that is found in the diesel versions of the E Class, ML and GL vehicles.

Merceds has not yet released the specifications, pricing and fuel economy ratings of this new addition to its diesel lineup, but expect it to get around 20 mpg city/30 mpg hwy.

Diesel offerings have the advantage of offering drivers lots of power at low rpms, compared with gas engines, as well as fuel economy that generally runs 20% to 35% better than gas versions. Some people are not keen on diesels, thinking that it is hard to find. But diesel pumps are commonly found at gas stations these days alongside regular gas pus these days.

There are Smartphone apps that make it easy to find the best diesel pumps wherever you are.

Tags: BlueTec, detroit auto show 2011, diesel, Mercedes Benz, North American International Auto Show

Detroit Auto Show: An all new 2012 Audi A6

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

If Audi is going to achieve the lofty sales goals of its parent company, Volkswagen AG, especially in the U.S., the new redesigned 2012 A6 sedan, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show this week, had better surpass the popularity of the outgoing model.

Looking very much like a slightly diminutive Audi A8, unveiled a year ago, the A6 sports the big toothy Audi signature grille, and a pretty tailored look that is almost throwback in its simplicity.

Audi has a target of selling 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. by 2018, which would be up sharply from the 101,629 it sold in 2010.

The A6 will be available globally with two gas engines and three TDI diesel powerplants, as well as a front-wheel drive-only (no Quattro system) hybrid model. The most powerful gasoline-fed model will be the 3.0-liter TFSI Quattro, producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The A6 hybrid will achieve an average fuel consumption of only 6.2 liters per 100 km (37.94 US mpg. The 2.0 liter TDI (clean diesel), in conjunction with a manual transmission, achieves 48 mpg (U.S).

Stay-tuned for pricing and precise launch date for the U.S. But we suspect the stickers to b close to the current A6, which ranges from $45,200 to $59,150.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6

Tags: Audi A6, Audi A6 TDI, Audi Hybrid, detroit auto show, detroit auto show 2011, North American International Auto Show

Detroit Auto Show: Porsche To Show Concept based on 918 Spyder

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

German automaker Porsche is expected to show a coupe version of its 918 Spyder at the Detroit auto show next week, according to Automotive News.

The two-seater vehicle will be a concept race car with a V8 engine relying on about 600 horsepower, reported the trade magazine. The car will be based on the same platform as the 918 Spyder hybrid (shown), a model that reaches 100 km (62 miles) an hour in 3.2 seconds and costs about 500,000 euros ($670,000) in Germany. The company said its Detroit premiere will be broadcast live on www.porsche.com/detroit.

Porsche, which is in process of merging with Volkswagen AG, will expand its four model lines with a goal of doubling annual sales to as many as 150,000 vehicles by 2014.

Tags: 918 spyder, detroit auto show, detroit auto show 2011, Porsche