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The fall auto-show season hasn't even begun, but Infiniti just provided the first scoop about a global vehicle introduction at the 2013 North American International Auto Show next January in Detroit.
From the moment the Selected by God choir -- famed for the "Imported from Detroit" commercial -- sang "Lean on Me" at the ribbon-cutting ceremony…
The Detroit Free Press created the Automotive Leadership Awards to recognize the most outstanding individual and organizational accomplishments of the last year -- work deserving extra attention in an industry that remains the economic heart of our city and state.
The Free Press selected Marchionne as the winner in the Executive Leadership category in the paper's inaugural Automotive Leadership Awards honoring outstanding individual and organizational achievements from the industry.
Here's what Italian-born, Canadian-educated Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, thinks of Detroit: "This town has got nothing to apologize about. The quality of life here is underestimated, and the quality of the work that goes on here ... is underestimated," he told the Free Press in a wide-ranging interview.
Last year, Cathy Clegg got to be on the fun side of labor and manufacturing: overseeing General Motors' decision to add or save 6,400 U.S. jobs in the agreement it reached in September with the UAW. Just four years earlier, GM closed seven of the plants Clegg oversaw as a manufacturing manager, as the company hurtled toward bankruptcy.
The following judges evaluated the nominees for the Detroit Free Press Automotive Leadership Awards. They were divided into three groups, and each group was responsible for selecting winners in multiple categories. Team One Tom Walsh is the Free Press business columnist.
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne took time in early December to talk to the Free Press about Chrysler's comeback and other issues. Here are some highlights. Question: Did you get more involved in the planning of the Dodge Dart than you normally would for most vehicles?
For many years, Tony Posawatz's engineering career at General Motors didn't look particularly green. For instance, he oversaw development of the Cadillac Escalade SUV and Chevrolet Avalanche flexible pickup.
In her 16-year career at General Motors, Sheri Hickok has never held a job for longer than a year and a half. Her most recent promotions have put her in charge of areas in which she has little-to-no background.
When Mike Jackson talks, auto CEOs listen. There are two reasons. First, he's their largest customer. As CEO of AutoNation, Jackson sees what's hot and what's not across more than 250 dealerships in 15 states. Second, he's not afraid to speak inconvenient truths.
Like the turbochargers it makes, BorgWarner is revved up. The Auburn Hills-based auto supplier produces engine and transmission parts that help make cars more environmentally friendly. "Our mission is focused on improving fuel economy, lowering emissions and at the same time improving vehicle performance," said Chairman and CEO Tim Manganello.
Despite the struggles of 2008 and 2009, Suburban Collection has continued to grow in its home markets of metro Detroit, Florida and California.
Almost a year after Chrysler's "Born of Fire" commercial aired during the Super Bowl, the commercial is still generating buzz and winning awards. In February, the commercial, with the tagline "Imported from Detroit," galvanized the region, boosted Chrysler's brand image and set the tone for a broader marketing campaign for the brand.
The next CEO who laments the "skills gap" between the jobs he or she needs to fill and applicants for those jobs could benefit from hanging out with Craig Roys and the Fighting Pi robotics team at Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences in Armada.
Like all automakers, Ford has invested aggressively in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. But meeting ambitious new U.S. fuel economy standards -- a fleet average of 54.5 m.p.g. by 2025 -- will take more than a well-meaning faith that American car buyers will embrace alternative powertrains.
Ed Welburn has led General Motors design from irrelevance to greater influence and respect than it has enjoyed in decades. Along the way, the 61-year-old designer helped create distinctive new looks for Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac and forged GM's design operations around the world into a cohesive team for the first time in the automaker's history.
Hard-hitting reporter Zlati Meyer reports from the Detroit auto show's Industry Days, where automotive engineers and designers scope out the competition with more intensity than your best-ever game of Dungeons & Dragons.
Matt Taracko was trying to feel the base of the seatbelts when he reached his hand down either side of the passenger seat of the Jeep Wrangler on display Wednesday at the North American International Auto Show's Industry Days.
Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan talks to readers about the Detroit auto show.
If you're going to the North American International Auto Show this year, expect to see some differences on the show floor. Nissan is back along with its Infiniti brand.
There's plenty to see at the North American International Auto Show on the show floor, but what about what's under the show floor? The basement level, called Michigan Hall, offers even more.
Here's key information about the 2012 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center.
Building a Maserati SUV in Detroit is testimony to how highly Fiat regards Chrysler's workforce and marks another step toward a more complete integration of the two companies, CEO Sergio Marchionne said Tuesday.
A year into his reign as Michigan's governor, Rick Snyder took to the floor of Detroit's annual auto show Tuesday to make the case that his new economic agenda is starting to bear fruit.
Visitors to the North American International Auto Show will be able to take care of those and other things starting Saturday through a mobile booth set up at Cobo Hall by the Michigan Secretary of State.
Armed with iPhones, a few Free Press staffers found time to snap fun Instagram photos in between fast-paced vehicle reveals during press previews at the 2012 North American International Auto Show this week. Here's what we saw.
"The first car that was really my car, as opposed to borrowing my mother's car, was a 1970 Plymouth wagon," he said. "It was the former fire chief of Battle Creek Township's.
As the new Ford Fusion spun elegantly on its display nearby and television celebrities from “Top Gear” mingled with fans, Amex guests were wined and dined with splashy fervor. Guests then got to preview the North American International Auto Show.
Like a lot of people, Editorial Cartoonist Mike Thompson needs to lose a few pounds after the holidays. So he headed to the Detroit auto show to get some workout tips from the fittest guy around.
The minivan of the future -- or at least Chrysler's future -- is on display at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Dubbed the 700C for now, the silver minivan with chrome accents appears to be lower to the ground and more aerodynamic than the current Dodge Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country.
General Motors' pay restrictions, a condition of its 2009 government aid, could become an increasing barrier to retaining quality employees when rising industry profits result in heftier bonuses at other automakers, its top U.S. executive said Tuesday.
After hibernating through the Great Recession, the world's automakers have delivered a wakeup call and a double espresso at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
Following a year with impressive achievements, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne sought to downplay expectations for 2012.
Brian Dickerson and Ron Dwonkowski reflect that both exhibits will generate reflection — at Cobo, off the fenders; at the DIA, on Rembrandt’s long quest to find the face of Jesus. But thoughtful people could spend as much time with Rembrandt as they do trying to see every new model, and all the cars and trucks, too, at Cobo.
What's the hottest car at this year's North American International Auto Show? Which one will draw the biggest crowds? Which car are you most excited to check out when you visit Cobo?
How strongly Honda rebounds from a terrible 2011 will depend heavily on consumer reaction to the 2013 Accord coupe revealed Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show.
Toyota touted its expanding line of eco-friendly vehicles on Tuesday, introducing a new plug-in hybrid concept called the NS4 and showing off the newest and smallest member of its Prius family. The NS4 plug-in hybrid concept illustrates how Toyota is aiming to be the world leader in fuel efficiency, extending its ambitions beyond its successful Prius brand.
With the functional shape of a doorstop, the eNV200 concept previews Nissan's thinking for the upcoming electric version of its compact commercial van. Featuring sliding side doors and a cavernous interior, the eNV200 offers the same cargo space as the gasoline-powered NV200 that won the contest to become New York City's next taxicab.
The 2013 VW Jetta hybrid promises an impressive combined city/highway fuel economy of 45 m.p.g. when it goes on sale late this year. It will be able to go short distances at up to 44 m.p.h. on battery power.
Audi's little Q3 Vail concept SUV is visually almost identical to the production model that will follow the Buick Encore and BMW X1 into what looks like the next growth segment: compact premium crossovers.
Sporting Honda's first direct-injection engine for improved fuel economy and power, the new Accord coupe will look almost exactly like this concept when it reaches dealerships in the fall. A plug-in hybrid model is to follow next winter. The Accord's styling is an evolution of the current model, with a rising beltline and subtle rear fender flares.
Light and luxurious, powerful and fuel-efficient, the Cadillac ATS was created to challenge the BMW 3 series and the world's best compact sport sedans.
The new 2013 Lincoln MKZ will have two engine choices, including a hybrid. With the same pains Ford took to make sure the Lincoln midsize sedan looks different from the new Ford Fusion midsize car, the automaker promises the cars will be different under the hood as well.
Ford will lose money in the Asia-Pacific region this year, Lewis Booth, chief financial officer, told investors Tuesday at an event in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Booth provided new guidance that modified a third-quarter forecast that all of Ford's regional operations would report a profit for 2011.
The purring orange Falcon F7 on display at the North American International Auto Show is one of three in existence and the first sale for a fledgling sports car company based in Holly.
The NSA4's nose, profile and stance all suggest it's a peek into Toyota's thinking for the next-generation Camry midsize sedan. Toyota calls its shape a modified triangle, with a low roof and forward-leaning look. The concept is a plug-in hybrid, but Toyota makes clear that it's not part of the Prius family.
Stoked by its recent small-car success with the Cruze compact and Sonic subcompact, Chevrolet reaches out to the youth market around the world with a pair of highly styled compact concept cars.
The latest generation of Mercedes' iconic luxury roadster, the 2013 SL is made nearly entirely of aluminum and weighs a remarkable 275 pounds less than its predecessor despite adding plenty of new equipment and features.
Dramatically styled with a long roofline, big, predatory grille and swept-back headlights that are the new face of Ford's car line, the 2013 Fusion goes on sale this fall. The fastback midsize sedan promises advanced technology and a powertrain lineup of three gasoline engines, a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
Arguably the most technically advanced Cadillac ever sold, the XTS showcases an elegant new interpretation of the brand's exterior design and a roomy, sumptuous interior.
For any car lover, it doesn't get much better than the first glimpse of a new Porsche 911. The convertible version of the legendary sports car makes its world premiere at the auto show, while the coupe makes its North American debut.
VIA Motors unveiled what the company is touting as the world's first extended-range pickup at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday.
Volvo's slick XC60 luxury crossover adds up to 35 miles of battery power to its already impressive suite of safety features in this concept. There's no production plan for a plug-in hybrid using the concept's sporty combination of a 280-horsepower engine and 70-horsepower electric motor, but Volvo plans to sell a diesel XC60 plug-in hybrid in Europe later this year.
Nissan's Pathfinder SUV has ditched the truck platform that carried the first three generations and 1.2 million units of the vehicle for a lighter and more fuel-efficient unibody chassis.
Smart calls the Forus concept a pickup, but it's more like a teeny dune buggy. Given Smart's affection for cutesy names, though, Forus may be the Daimler brand's way of reaching out to truck-loving Americans.
Tata Technologies -- the clever people who engineered the world's least-expensive new car, the Nano -- will show the eMo electric concept car at the Michelin Challenge Design display in Cobo Hall's Washington Boulevard entrance area.
The svelte Kubang concept SUV shows what happens when Jeep engineering meets Maserati elegance. Built in Detroit with an interior that promises Maserati's hand-crafted Italian appeal, the upcoming production version of the Kubang will open new doors for a brand that's sold exclusively cars until now.
Mercedes-Benz gets very serious about hybrids as it drops the electric system into its best-selling vehicle -- the E-class luxury sedan -- and adds a unique diesel hybrid to its European lineup.
With oddly shaped windows that could come from the sketchpad for the Honda Odyssey and hindquarters reminiscent of the quirky Mercedes-Benz R-class, the 700C concept shows Chrysler is exploring new ideas for minivans and other family vehicles as it ponders the next generation of its iconic people movers.
The sleek ILX concept is a dead ringer for an upscale compact sedan that goes into production at Honda's Greensburg, Ind., assembly plant this spring. The front-wheel drive ILX shares its platform with the Honda Civic. It will have three powertrains, including Acura's first hybrid.
Boasting a hybrid system, mid-mounted V6 engine and performance-tuned new all-wheel drive system, the NSX concept will be a rolling billboard for Acura technology, performance and fuel economy when a production model hits the road around 2015.
Audi's A3 e-tron concept car shows the technical direction the brand will take when a battery-powered version of its compact premium car debuts in a few years.
BMW engineers pulled out all the stops to make the new 3-series lighter and more fuel-efficient without sacrificing performance or safety. Despite being wider and longer than the current model, the 2013 3 series is about 88 pounds lighter than a comparably equipped 2012 model. Rear passenger room improves, thanks to a 2.0-inch longer wheelbase.
Legendary European tuner Karl Abarth said the sporty versions of everyday Fiats he built and raced were "small but wicked," and the little Fiat 500 Abarth lives up to every word of that motto.
The 2013 RDX is longer, lower and slightly narrower than the current model. Acura calls the RDX on its stand a prototype of the production model, but it's virtually identical to the midsize SUV that reaches dealerships this spring. The 2013's styling is updated for a smoother and wider look in keeping with the bigger MDX that's the upscale brand's best-selling vehicle.
Pay no attention to the gorgeous 6 series Gran Coupe's name. There's nothing remotely coupe-like about BMW's slinky new car, which has four doors and a slightly concealed B-pillar between the front and rear doors.
Buick hopes to be one of the first players in a new segment of compact luxury crossover SUVs when the Encore arrives early next year. Audi and BMW are also expected to add little SUVs to their lineups in 2013.
The first model out the chute in Chevy's all-new family of 2013 Malibu midsize sedans, the Malibu Eco uses many systems common to hybrids for predicted EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 m.p.g. in the city and 37 m.p.g. on the highway.
A sport suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and new interior features distinguish the Sonic RS from mainstream models of Chevrolet's new subcompact. The super Sonic's lowered ride, unique five-spoke 17-inch wheels, fog lights and grille make the car immediately identifiable from the outside.
Boasting features ranging from knee air bags and blind-spot alert to high-efficiency engines and transmissions, the 2013 Dodge Dart will be the most advanced and fuel-efficient compact vehicle Chrysler has ever built when it replaces the Caliber.
The sleek and advanced new Escape brings Ford's global design theme and latest technology to one of America's favorite small crossover SUVs.
Hyundai's nifty Veloster sporty hatchback gets a welcome power boost with a 201-horsepower turbocharged model for 2013. The muscular 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine also produces 195 pound-feet of torque from just 1,750 r.p.m. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.
Stylish, roomy and family friendly, the JX slots into Infiniti's family of crossovers just above the racy FX. You could get good odds on a bet that it will replace the eccentrically styled QX, though Infiniti hasn't said that. The seven-passenger JX offers three rows of seats, a 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable transmission.
Boasting best-in-class fuel economy of a stunning 35 m.p.g. on the highway, 26 in the city and 29 in combined driving, the dashing CX-5 showcases Mazda's pioneering suite of new drivetrain and weight-saving techniques. Mazda calls its approach Skyactiv. It includes new engines, manual and automatic transmissions and weight- and energy-saving components and design.
The Mini Cooper roadster is a go-kart for grownups, packing the brand's signature razor-sharp handling into a two-seat package with a low roofline.
The resemblance between Scion and Subaru's new sporty coupes is anything but coincidental. Subaru was short of money and Toyota had little experience making sporty little cars. The pair hooked up and these two very similar rear-drive coupes are the result. Call it the first Scibaru.
Buick is continuing its challenge of creating its own vehicle segment -- "approachable luxury" -- by introducing another industry pioneer: the 2013 Buick Encore crossover.
Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne today denied reports that the company is considering an alliance with France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen after unveiling a Maserati SUV that will be assembled in Detroit.
The purring orange Falcon F7 on display at the Detroit auto show is one of three in existence and the first sale for the fledgling sports car company based in Holly.
Flooding in Thailand proved more devastating than originally forecast. Production of the new Ford Ranger pickup was down for several weeks.
It has a 4.3L V6 combustion engine, which is used only when the batteries need charging, coupled with a 150 kilowatt electric generator, according to the company. The line of vehicles, called eREV, also boasts a 402-horsepower electric motor and a 24 kilowatt-hour Li-ion battery pack, that provides up to a 40-mile range.
Get ready to jump and dance your way through the Detroit Auto Show when it opens to the public Saturday.
Toyota today put the emphasis on fuel efficiency, introducing a new plug-in hybrid concept vehicle called the NS4 and showing off the newest and smallest member of its Prius family.
Buick this morning revealed the 2013 Encore, one of the first entries in a new segment of compact luxury crossover SUVs.
The Auburn Hills automaker’s Chrysler’s Saltillo assembly plant currently produces Ram 1500 light duty pickups and heavy duty pickups.
The minivan of the future – or at least Chrysler’s future – is on display at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
When it's crunch time, when the going gets tough, the battle-tested leaders are the ones who survive and win. If that sounds like a sports cliché or a military analogy, it has also proven out in the global automobile industry this past year.
This will be the most aggressive year for introducing new global products, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said Monday at the North American International Auto Show. The automaker is also on track to add the 12,000 jobs promised for the U.S. by the end of 2012, Mulally said.
Chevrolet unveiled two compact coupe concepts Monday called Code 130R and Tru 140S after studying teens and twentysomethings to "try to win the hearts and minds of the auto-buying public like it once did," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.
BMW plans to keep its lead in luxury, fending off the competition with a redesign of its top-selling 3 Series sedan plus new hybrids and two electric concepts.
Reid Bigland, head of the Dodge brand, said Monday that the 2013 Dodge Dart "will shatter perceptions of what a compact car should be" as he introduced it at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "The all new Dodge Dart is a revolutionary car," Bigland said. "This car will bring forth the best of European engineering and Dodge dynamics."
The Hyundai Elantra and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque were named North American Car and Truck of the Year by a panel of independent automotive journalists at the 2012 North American International Auto Show Monday.
Near the end of a long day of serious journalism, Detroit Free Press staff writer Zlati Meyer takes a break to as the questions that she really wanted to know at the North American International Auto Show.
The new 2013 Lincoln MKZ will have a variety of engine choices, including at least one hybrid. The car will launch initially with just EcoBoost gasoline engines, said Ford CEO Alan Mulally. But “there will be a hybrid in the family,” said Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth.
Honda, looking to recapture momentum lost during a disaster-plagued 2011, will build three new Acura models in Ohio and Indiana, including a reborn NSX, an ultra sports car aimed at injecting much-needed excitement among its customers.
Daimler introduced the latest version of the Mercedes SL and hybrid versions of the Mercedes E-Class on Monday. According to Thomas Weber, Daimler board member in charge of group research and Mercedes-Benz cars development, the SL stands for "super" and "light."
Honda, seeking to recover from a difficult 2011, unveiled an Accord coupe today at the 2012 North American International Auto Show that the automaker hopes will help it regain lost market share.
The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet debuted Monday at Cobo Center in Detroit. The convertible version made its world premiere at the auto show, while the coupe makes its North American debut. The new model keeps its iconic looks but adds room, features, power and fuel economy.
The good news: Audi plans to sell the new Q3 compact crossover in the U.S. in 2014. The bad news: The German automaker will not make a decision on making the Q3 or any other vehicle in the U.S. any time soon.
Hyundai won the North American Car of the Year award Monday for the second time since 2009, unveiled two products and today will announce an expansion of its Ann Arbor technical center and the hiring of more highly skilled workers to staff it. If there were any doubts that the South Korean automaker is playing in the first tier of the U.S. market, they are now erased.
The Lincoln MKZ was supposed to debut at the 2011 New York auto show. But Ford, intent on rebuilding Lincoln into a strong competitor to other luxury brands, delayed the launch. But the result, in the eyes of the new team charged with reinventing the Lincoln brand, was worth it.
Gov. Rick Snyder promised to change the way tax incentives are handed out in the state and an announcement today with Hyundai, DTE Energy and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. was a peek into the new philosophy.
Lexus unveiled its LF-LC hybrid sports coupe Monday, a concept vehicle that signals a new design direction for the luxury brand. The rear-wheel drive coupe was designed at Toyota's Calty design studio in Newport Beach, Calif. The LF-LC is a preview of a future successor to the former SC coupe that Lexus sold for many years.
The Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8 unveiled Monday come as sales for the ultra-luxury brand are rebounding. It's a sign of the times that Bentley's big news is the addition of smaller high-tech engines to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
Volvo unveiled the new 2012 XC60 plug-in hybrid concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Cobo Center on Monday. "The perfect car is actually three cars in one," explained President and CEO Stefan Jacoby, because of the car's three modes: pure, hybrid and power.
Nissan reinvented its trusty Pathfinder SUV, which first debuted in 1986, and will launch it as Americans are looking more favorably on truck-like vehicles again. Nissan displayed a concept version of its new Pathfinder at the 2012 North American International Auto Show on Monday.
The first 86 buyers of Scion's sporty 2013 FR-S this spring will be selected online Thursday even though there's no price tag yet. Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion, said the rear-wheel drive model will be priced under $30,000, as he unveiled the fifth vehicle in Scion's lineup Monday at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Final pricing is expected in February....
The Bugster -- a version of the Beetle with a lower roof -- is a pure electric car. It has a 114-horsepower electric motor and a 100-mile range. The Bugster is part of a broader product onslaught that Volkswagen hopes will boost total U.S. sales to more than 1 million by 2018 for all of its brands.
But the German automaker will not make a decision on making the Q3 or any other vehicle in the U.S. anytime soon.
Honda’s U.S. sales fell 6.8% last year as the Japanese earthquake in the spring and flooding in Thailand disrupted its flow of parts, forced production cuts and left dealer showrooms understocked.
Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion, said the rear-wheel drive model will be priced under $30,000.
Comparing the ride to a launch off a roller-coaster hilltop, Mini introduced a two-seat roadster – and skyrocketing sales figures - at the Detroit auto show today.
The floor of the North American International Auto Show is where cars and technology collide -- with eye-catching results.
Chime in on the North American International Auto Show!
The German automaker’s sales grew by 40% globally in 2011 and by 23% in the U.S. In 2012, Volkswagen said it expects sales to increase 12.5% to more than 500,000.
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