Automotive News – January 13, 2011
The North American International Auto Demonstrate opens in Detroit. AutoWeek names its “Best of the Best” for 2011. Toyota looks to power cars with laptop batteries. These and other stories of interest in this week’s Automotive News.
North American International Auto Showcase Stats
The 23rd annual North American International Auto Display (NAIAS) opened at Detroit’s COBO Center on January eleven and is scheduled to run until January 23rd. Arguably the top auto display in the U.S., the two thousand eleven NAIAS has identically incredible statistics to share. For example:
- Total No. of Cars on Display: 500+
- Brands Represented: 40+
- Total Vehicle Introductions – 35+
- Media Credentials Issued – Five,000+
- Public Demonstrate Attendance – 710,000 (Projected)
NAIAS Names Chevy Volt the two thousand eleven Car of the Year
One of the North American International Auto Display’s very first orders of business was to name its “Car of the Year.” For 2011, that honor went to the Chevy Volt, the all-electric sedan that is just now being introduced to the North American market. The Volt has already won Car of the Year from Motor Trend magazine as well as the two thousand eleven Green Car of the Year award.
AutoWeek Names Cadillac CTS-V Coup and Jeep Grand Cherokee its Best of the Best
AutoWeek magazine has named its editors’ picks for the best car and truck for the two thousand eleven model year. Its choices: The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe (car) and the Jeep Grand Cherokee (truck). About the Caddy CTS-V, one editor said, “I think it might just be one of the best, perhaps the best, potluck recipes on the market: one part good treating, one part drag-strip-launching loser, one part high-speed highway-mile eater.” As for the Grand Cherokee, the magazine said, “Perhaps no single vehicle symbolizes the reborn Chrysler more than this off-roader. It’s capable, it builds on the long-held strength of the iconic brand, and in a fresh twist, it’s downright luxurious.”
Toyota Likes Tesla EV Batteries
Rather than investing millions to develop cheaper EV batteries, Toyota’s top engineers have voiced a preference for the strategy developed by Tesla Motors for its electrified vehicles: just strap together thousands of petite lithium-ion laptop computer power cells. Because laptop batteries are produced in vast quantities, their per-unit cost is relatively low. Using them in electrified cars can reduce engine costs by as much as two-thirds, according to Toyota spokesmen. Toyota is partnering with Tesla to produce a fresh all-electric RAV4.
Honda to Sell CNG Civic in 2011
Hondo Motor Co. has announced plans to sell a fresh Civic sedan powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in all fifty states beginning later this year. Until now, it has only sold its natural gas-powered Civics in limited numbers, mostly to government fleets. The good news is that natural gas-burning engines produced lower emissions that conventional internal combustion engines, and virtually all commercial grade natural gas is produced here in the United States. The bad news: There are only about 1,000 natural gas fueling stations in the U.S. More fueling locations are critical to the natural gas-burning Civic’s long-term success.
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