Autoblog

The global economic downturn is affecting other things than the availability of credit, the unemployment rate and the fate of the world's largest automaker. We had already heard that Suzuki was planning on skipping this year's 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January (Porsche passed on the 2008 show), but the small Japanese brand has now been joined by a few heavyweights that compete at the very high end of the automotive spectrum. It turns out that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover are all three not attending this year's Detroit show, presumably because they don't have anything exciting to announce and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

What's surprising about this trio of top shelf brands missing out on Detroit is that we always thought luxury goods were least vulnerable to a crappy economy. Sure the middle class and poor get poorer, but the super wealthy usually have a few million stuffed under their mattresses to see them through. Thus, if not less expensive Land Rovers, at least Ferraris and Rollers would still be bought in decent numbers. Apparently that's not the case, as even the most expensive of autos are seeing sales slow and if they don't have a new production vehicle or concept car to show, then a trip to Detroit is the vacation nobody wants to take.

[Source: LA Times, Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty]

Nissan unveiled the NV2500 Concept today, which will debut in the metal at this year's 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. No, it's not a high-performance sports car, but rather a multipurpose utility vehicle, a.k.a. panel van, that' previews what the Japanese automaker will soon bring to the commercial vehicle market here in the U.S. You may recall Nissan announced back in April that it was developing three new commercial vehicles for U.S. customers, and the NV2500 hints at the first one. It looks like a bit bigger than a Ford Transit Connect and much smaller than a Dodge Sprinter, which may be "just right" for many companies shopping in the segment. Nissan has already told us this first commercial vehicle is a clean-sheet design developed just for the U.S., and that it will be built at its Canton, Mississippi facility.

[Source: Nissan]

Automotive News is reporting that Volkswagen has moved the debut of its mid-engine roadster from this month at the LA Auto Show to January at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The only reason given for the move is that VW expects there to be more interest for the concept two-seater in Detroit than LA. We would hazard a guess that it's also got something to do with budgets being trimmed back, but what do we know.

There's still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the VW mid-engine roadster, like what size four-cylinder will be installed behind the seats and whether or not the platform will make extensive use of aluminum to keep weight down. Though the car debuting in Detroit will be a concept, a production version is expect in 2011 if things go according to plan. Because a two-seat, mid-engine roadster is anything but a volume seller, however, this new sportster from VW could be in danger of being cut due to the ailing auto market in the U.S.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Volvo sales have been flat-out tanking in the U.S., as Swedish metal moved in September 2008 at a 51% lower rate than it did in the same month of 2007. New product should help Ford's (for now) Swedish unit reverse that precipitous slide, the first sample of which will be seen as an S60 concept to be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. We're a couple months away from seeing Volvo's midsize concept, but the Swedes are showing us a sneak peak at the interior to pique our interest.

Orrefors Crystal is the designer of choice to give Volvo a new take on its trademark waterfall center stack. Designers decided on a real crystal surface that stretches from the navigation screen all the way to the back seats. The look is very high-end and definitely draws the eye, but Volvo states the obvious in saying the heavy and expensive crystal is concept-only. One interesting feature of the S60 concept interior is that its uniquely shaped shifter and center stack buttons detach to become a remote control.

We'd guess that the center stack won't stretch all the way to the back seats in production from, as any back seat in the midsize class needs seating for three in order to survive. Speaking of survival, Volvo really needs a terrific S60 to continue in this brutal automotive market, so the concept reveal in Detroit will be highly anticipated.


[Source: Volvo]

According to a report by Reuters, General Motors has nixed plans to debut production versions of the Cadillac CTS coupe and new Buick LaCrosse at the LA Auto Show next month. The report goes on to say that the Buick unveiling has been delayed until the Detroit Auto Show in January, and after navigating Cadillac's voice-mail Hell, we weren't able to get confirmation on when GM plans to reveal of the CTS coupe. The decision by GM to delay both debuts is reportedly intended to reduce costs. If you buy that one, there's a bridge we think you might be interested in. Top tip Scott S.



[Source: Reuters]

Jalopnik is reporting this morning that images published last night on the web of what appeared to be the next-generation 2010 Toyota Prius are, in fact, the real deal. Toyota PR reportedly confirmed to the website that what we're looking at is the same car that will be revealed in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. We've also included some spy shots in the gallery below that would seem to corroborate this.

As Damon pointed out last night, the new design is an evolution of the current model that incorporates some recent favorite styling cues of Toyota designers like the bulbous badge housing up front. The interior, however, is a marked step away from the current model's spaceship controls, and thankfully eschews that car's dash-mounted shifter for a new one properly placed on the buttressed center console. Mechanically speaking, the new Prius is expected to arrive with a more powerful gas engine, bigger electric motor and, despite continuing to use nickel-metal hydride rather than lithium-ion batteries, improved fuel efficiency. It is the Prius after all.

UPDATE: Toyota has confirmed publicly on its Open Road Blog that these shots are indeed the 2010 Prius.


[Source: Jalopnik, Thanks for the spy pics, Jason and Merritt!]

We're far from convinced that the image above is the 2010 Toyota Prius, but judging by the front detail pic and the interior shot, it could be the most accurate portrayal we'll see before it's unveiling in Detroit this January.

The pic, published over at PriusChat by bossdowner, shows a restyled front end that takes a few cues from recent ToMoCo offerings, including the bulbous badge housing, deeper air dam and recessed fog lamps. The headlights are a nice touch, but we still haven't warmed up to the L-shaped design originally shown on the new Maxima and forthcoming 370Z.

As for the interior, it's a sea of bland in a dark gray plastic that would make the Germans proud. However, we dig the raised center console with an integrated pass-through to access the 12-volt outlet.

Check the gallery for more and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for the tip Rafih.


[Source: PriusChat]

Toyota has finally confirmed what's been rumored for months, that a new hybrid is coming for its upmarket Lexus brand based on the underpinnings of the Toyota Prius. The Prius itself is about to undergo a major reworking, as the third-generation of the iconic hybrid will debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show. According to Lexus officials, the Prius-based Lexus will go on sale in Europe for 2010, and we're guessing the U.S. will get that model too. A second dedicated hybrid model will reportedly also join the Lexus ranks and be larger than the Prius-based car. We don't have too many details yet on either of these new Lexuses, except that they will be more performance-oriented than their Prius sibling. A high-luxe Prius, as long as it doesn't get too pricey, may be just what the doctor ordered for the struggling Lexus brand.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

MotoringFile, ground zero on the web for all things MINI, has the scoop on the long-awaited 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible. Someone slipped MF seven official shots of the Detroit-bound R57 Cooper ragtop along with some additional inside information. Obviously, it's based on the current chassis and powertrains, so you know what you're going to get there. Additionally, the JCW package is supposedly going to be available at launch as well.

One of the most obvious visual changes in the new convertible is the use of pop-up roll hoops instead of the fixed units featured on the old car. This, in addition to looking cleaner, should improve rearward visibility with the top down. Speaking of the top being down, the new car includes a cutesy little gimmick called the 'Always Open" gauge. Located next to the tach housing, it tells the driver the percentage of miles driven with the top open. Look also for new paint and top colors outside, plus a new black chrome interior trim package inside. MotoringFile says we'll see the car in showrooms come Spring 2009. Look for more info on the new MINI convertible as we get closer to the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, hit up MotoringFile for their full preview report. Thanks to Gabriel for the heads-up.


[Source: MotoringFile]

Now that the very last of the first-gen convertible MINI Coopers has officially rolled down the assembly line, all eyes turn their attention towards the new R57 model. There are some undisguised spy shots floating around, though all but the most die-hard fans would be hard-pressed to spot the differences. The top works the same, featuring the same partly opened 'sunroof' style and the fully opened wind-in-you-hair mode of the last model. Also, the top does not stow away like many modern convertibles, instead sitting atop the rear deck like many of the classics MINIs. Also conspicuously absent is the large external roll-bar of the old model, replaced with a single pop-up unit for '09. It's under the skin where the changes are most apparent, most notably the new 1.6-liter BMW/PSA/Peugeot-Citroen mill. Expect standard Cooper and up-level Cooper S models to make it to the U.S. with the Cooper One and Cooper D added for Europe.

Rumor has it that MINI is set to debut the new '09 'vert at the Detroit Auto Show in January. We expect production to be fully ramped up so that customer deliveries will begin in earnest before summer. And if you don't have your order in yet, expect a very long wait.

[Source: Auto Express]