detroit

Mini Releases the Paceman Concept

The company that jump-started the premium hatchback market is unrelenting in its expansion, transforming its original model into a growing range. This is the latest.

Although billed as a concept car, the Mini Paceman could very well make it to production if demand proves sufficient. It's essentially a coupe version of the Countryman crossover model, and is set to debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Aside from chopping a couple of doors off the crossover, Mini has also given the Paceman a number of intriguing design touches, like leather pulls on the doors and gas cap, a wooden trim piece on the front fender and a rearward sloping roof.

Gallery: Mini Paceman concept

Tags: 2011 detroit auto show, detroit, detroit auto show, mini, Mini Paceman, MINI Paceman Concept, naias, north american international auto show, paceman

97 Winder, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

One of the grandest Victorian mansions in Detroit is up for sale. 97 Winder is currently in use as the Inn at 97 Winder, a beautiful bed and breakfast filled with works of art and antiques. The Inn at 97 Winder is located only two blocks from Comerica Park, three blocks from Ford Field, and minutes from other great Detroit attractions. The mansion has 10 bedroom suites, three living room and eight marble fireplaces.

It was 1876 when John Harvey, built the over 11,000 square foot mansion that stands at 97 Winder today. The home was created by architect John V. Smith who combined elements of Queen Anne and Mansard architecture to create the three-story house adorned with gables, bay windows, octagon turret and a mansard roof. The neighborhood was once known as Little Paris and many of Detroit's elite lived in the area, it is now known as Brush Park and some of the area has been redeveloped for luxury condominiums while other mansions have also been restored. This property is listed at $2.5 million.

Gallery: 97 Winder

Tags: detroit, detroit real estate, estate of the day, michigan real estate

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Johnny Knoxville Films Detroit Documentary

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style, Video

Palladium, a heritage boot company that relaunched last year is hoping to aid another comeback, that of Detroit. The brand has created a bunch of "Exploration" campaigns, in which Palladium explores and documents hidden and abandoned urban places in search of unique stories. These Explorations are then turned into viral videos that live on their website and their latest features "Jackass" star Johnny Knoxville in Detroit.

In an exploration called 'Detroit Lives,' Knoxville puts on Palladium boots and checks out the city, which was once the fourth largest city in America but is now in the midst of a transformation from abandoned urban landscape back to a vibrant community. The trailer for the video above showcase the young people who are taking back the city and their community. The full video for 'Detroit Lives' premieres on August 30.

The challenging urban landscape also makes a nice backdrop for the boots. Palladium was founded in 1920 to make aircraft tires for the aviation industry. In 1947, after the end of WWII saw demand for tires dry up, Palladium turned to making rubber and canvas boots including the classic canvas Pampa boot. The sturdy boots for men and women sell for $50 to $275. The video is after the jump.

Tags: Detroit, johnny knoxville, palladium boots

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Detroit Billionaire To Bid For The Pistons

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

How many teams does one billionaire need? If you are Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesars pizza mogul, that number might be three. Ilitch, who already owns the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings has said that he wants to buy the NBA team the Detroit Pistons in order to keep the basketball team in town. Pistons owner Karen Davidson, who lost her husband, Bill Davidson last year, has said she is considering a sale of the team by itself or along with Palace Sports and Entertainment, which includes The Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadow Brook Music Festival. Only one other person has owned three of a city's professional teams before. Ted Turner did it, owning the Atlanta Braves baseball team, the NBA's Hawks and the NHL's Thrashers. The Pistons have an expected value of $479 million. Earlier this month the Golden State Warriors set a record when the team sold for $450 million.

Locals are concerned that Ilitch might want to take the team out of its current location at The Palace of Auburn Hills and move it to a downtown arena that could be used by both the Pistons and the Red Wings. The Detroit News says that the arena has been the home of the Pistons since 1988 and pays $2 million a year in property taxes to Auburn Hills. There has been talk of a new downtown stadium since earlier this year when Ilitch's Olympia Entertainment said it did not want a long-term lease for Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Center for the Red Wings to continue playing there. The lease between the Red Wings and Joe Louis Arena expired in June but the hockey team will continue to play there next season because it does not have a new home.

Tags: billionaire sports team owners, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, little caesars, Mike Ilitch, palace of auburn hills

NYC Named America's Richest City With Over 650,000 Millionaires

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

New York has been named America's richest city with a record 667,000 high-net worth individuals, or people with $1 million or more in investible assets, recorded as living there in 2009. The figure, 18.7% higher than in 2008, comes from the new Metro Wealth Index created by consulting firm Capgemini, the Wall St. Journal reports. New York not only topped the list but demolished the competition, with a sum greater than the total of the next three runners up combined – Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington. The number of millionaires in New York City – some of whom are of course billionaires – is now greater than the entire population of Boston. While growth is up across the board over 2008, only New York, D.C. (#4), Houston (#9) and San Jose (#10) are now above their 2007 or pre-recession levels, with the rest still languishing behind.

Tags: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, millionaires, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Washington, wealth

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Ghost Vodka To Launch In Detroit

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

A Michigan made vodka set to launch in Detroit has a uniquely spooky angle. Ghost Vodka is entirely Michigan sourced from the wheat, barley and corn used to make the vodka to the bottle design. One of the founders, Jim Burgess, says that the Michigan angle was deliberate, he and his fianceé, Kelly Callahan are Detroit locals. The ghost angle comes from Burgess's interest in ghosts. The Ghost Vodka website has a place where people can submit their own paranormal experiences. The vodka should go on sale in March in the Detroit area and the official release party is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend of May at the Whitney Restaurant in Detroit. In attendance will be Brad and Barry Klinge of the paranormal investigation team Everyday Paranormal, who participate Discovery Channel show Ghost Lab. The Whitney also has a reputation for being haunted.

Tags: detroit, ghost vodka, GhostVodka, vodka

Featured Cigar Lounge: La Casa De La Habana in Detroit

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

While many Detroit businesses are looking for the exits, La Casa del Habana decided it was time to enter the beleaguered city. The Michigan-based collection of tobacconists offers an upscale alternative to traditional lounge smoking with its private clubs. In Detroit, between the Opera House and Music Hall, you can enjoy a touch of luxury until 2 AM every day (except Sunday, when it closes at 9 PM) at a destination that features the city's largest walk-in humidor.

To access the second floor VIP lounge, the fee is $100 a month, and you are required to buy a box of cigars up front. But, you receive a private humidor that can accommodate up to 20 boxes of cigars, full use of the club facilities at any La Casa De La Habana location and two premium cigars every month. Members get the first shot at hard to find cigars when they become available and can enjoy special events not open to the public.

Detroit may need a bit of help, but it's great to know that it already has its own oasis.

[Photo via La Casa De La Habana]

Tags: cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigar shop, CigarClub, CigarLounge, cigars, CigarShop, Detroit, smoking

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

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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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BMW Debuts Top-of-the-Line Z4 sDrive3.5is Roadster in Detroit

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Enthusiasts have been waiting patiently for an M version of BMW's latest Z4 roadster, and that day has finally arrived, in everything but name. The new – if awkwardly named – Z4 sDrive3.5is is the top-of-the-line roadster from the Bavarian automaker. Unveiled this week at the Detroit auto show, it packs the company's highly-rated 3-liter twin-turbo inline-six with 340 horsepower. 0-60? 4.8 seconds. And to bring it closer to M Roadster territory, there's an M-sport appearance package available, together with a revised suspension and bigger brakes.

Gallery: BMW Z4 sDrive3.5is

Source

Tags: 2010 naias, bmw, bmw m power, bmw m sport, bmw z4, bmw Z4 sDrive35is, BmwMPower, BmwMSport, BmwZ4, BmwZ4Sdrive35is, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, naias, north american international auto show, z4

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible Debuts at Detroit Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Between the SL, SLK and CLK, Mercedes-Benz offers no shortage of convertible options. But the latter is on its way out, and here's its replacement: the all-new for 2010 E-Class Cabriolet. Following in line with the recently released E-Class sedan, wagon and coupe, the convertible benefits from all the latest developments Daimler has to offer, and then some. As a convertible, the E-Class gets a new system called AirCap, designed to minimize wind buffeting in the cabin at speed, and another called Airscarf that keeps occupants warm to enable top-down motoring in all sorts of weather. Like the rest of the range, the E-Class convertible will be available in E350 and E550 guises, with a 268hp V6 and a 382hp V8 respectively. And, of course, room for four sun-worshipping passengers.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

Tags: 2010 naias, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, mercedes, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabrio, mercedes-benz e-class cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible, Mercedes-benzE-class, Mercedes-benzE-classCabrio, Mercedes-benzE-classCabriolet, Mercedes-benzE-classConvertible, naias, north american international auto show

Chrysler Presents Upgraded 300 S in Detroit

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

While waiting on a new generation of shared platforms with its new corporate partners at Fiat, Chrysler is holding on with a series of special packages for some of its most popular Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler-brand products. Among them, at the top of the line, sits the new Chrysler 300 S, unveiled at this year's Detroit auto show.

The new trim is mostly an appearance package, available in both S6 (with the 250hp 3.5-liter V6) and S8 (340hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8) guises. Both get a new grille, darkened headlamp bezels, sleeker door panels, side mirror housings and polished 20" wheels. Inside there are new leather sport seats, carbon-fiber trim, red top-stitching and 300 S logos stitched into various surfaces. The new package should help the five-year-old 300, based on the old Mercedes E-Class platform, carry on a few more years until its replacement arrives.

Gallery: Chrysler 300 S8

Source

Tags: 2010 naias, 300, 300 c, 300 s, 300 s6, 300 s8, 300C, 300S, 300S6, 300S8, chrysler, chrysler 300, chrysler 300 c, chrysler 300 s, chrysler 300 s6, chrysler 300 s8, Chrysler300, Chrysler300C, Chrysler300S, Chrysler300S6, Chrysler300S8, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, naias, north american international auto show

Mercedes-Benz Sculpture Previews Next CLS

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Automakers are always looking for intriguing new ways to preview what they're working on next, and this is what Mercedes brought to Detroit this year: a sculpture that's tipped to preview the next-generation CLS. Pioneering the "four door coupe" segment, the CLS has been a popular vehicle for Benz, so the new model will have big, svelte shoes to fill. And from the looks of things, it should be up to the task.

Looking like a show car draped in a sheet, the sculpture shows an SLS-inspired grille, with a sleek roofline, long hood and bulging wheel arches. That's all we have to go on for now until Mercedes pulls off the iron curtain, so have a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Design Sculpture

Source

Tags: 2010 naias, cls, cls-class, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, mercedes, mercedes cls, mercedes cls-class, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz CLS, mercedes-benz cls-class, mercedes-benz design, Mercedes-benzCls, Mercedes-benzCls-class, Mercedes-benzDesign, MercedesCls, MercedesCls-class, naias, north american international auto show

Mini Shows Quirky Beachcomber Concept at Detroit Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Mini line-up is getting bigger. While the original came as a diminutive hatchback, the Mini has since been joined by convertible, wagon, coupe, roadster and soon a sport-utility version. But BMW's premium compact division isn't about to stop there, and to that end unveiled the Beachcomber Concept you see here at the Detroit auto show.

The Beachcomber gives another preview at what we can expect the upcoming Crossover to look like, only with some decidedly fantastical (and impractical) modifications. The roof and doors, for one, have been removed, replaced by removable fabric ones, placing this concept somewhere in between the Mini Cooper and a Jeep Wrangler. For better or worse, this strictly remains a concept car for the time being, but you can check it out in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mini Beachcomber Concept

Tags: 2010 naias, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, mini, mini beachcomber, mini beachcomber concept, mini concept, mini crossman, mini crossover, MiniBeachcomber, MiniBeachcomberConcept, MiniConcept, MiniCrossman, MiniCrossover, naias, north american international auto show

Dodge Viper Bids Farewell in Detroit with ACR 1:33 Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It's been a good run for the Dodge Viper. The all-American supercar gave Chrysler its reputation for putting its show-stopping show-cars into production back in 1992. Unfortunately those days are behind the troubled automaker, and that means the Viper is going the way of the do-do. But not before it's racked up some serious accomplishments, the most recent of which was claiming the fastest lap time at the venerable Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the most challenging circuits in the world.

After setting a record 1 minute, 33 second lap time around Laguna Seca, Dodge announced it would create a special-edition American Club Racer, and that ultimate Viper just debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition gets a special paint scheme, revised aerodynamics and revised gearing, making this a fitting tribute to the sportscar that put Dodge on the map. Unfortunately only 10 examples will be produced, all of which have undoubtedly been spoken for by now. But you can see more in the gallery below.

Gallery: Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition