Here are some of the cool cars we reckon at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit . press the ones you like for more information and pictures - we ’ve also chosen our favourite cars . Or go to thenext pagefor the overview of the show , and some neat pictures of the amazing press conferences we saw .
Show Overview
We ’re here at the 2001 North American International Auto Show and it is amazing . The show is in Cobo Hall in Detroit , on a 750,000 straight - foot show floor ; but there are double- and even triplex - decker exhibits that lend an extra 106,000 square feet to the full area . ( That ’s more than 20 Accho of exhibits ! )
These exhibit use enough carpet , hardwood and roofing tile for 600 home , and the lighting during the show will use as much energy as a 360 - dwelling subdivision uses in six calendar month . The total value of the 500 - plus cars here is more than $ 200 million !
Some of the cars we ’ll show you areconcept cars . These cars will probably never make it to production , but certain features may show up in next automobile produced by these automakers . Others are machine that are head for output , but not for a year or two . Each unveiling is a vast yield .
A good chip of this show is about drama and introduction . For example , Daimler Chrysler debuted the Jeep Liberty SUV by driving it down a steep , rock’n’roll - covered ramp with a waterfall as a backdrop on the huge stage .
Ford VP of Design J. Mays unveiled the Ford Forty - Nine construct gondola to the singing of a 45 - someone Christian church choir .
Luxury Sport Utility Trucks
This year , combining unlike vehicle character is a big base at the machine show . There were at least four sportswoman utility trucks ( SUTs ) deliver . These sumptuousness vehicles combine an SUV with a full - sizing pickup arm .
GM cite a survey finding that 20 percent of luxury - car drivers also own a full - sized pickup truck . To essay to expand that market section , GM showed the Cadillac Escalade EXT , which is due to join the Cadillac card in 2002 .
The coolest feature film of this truck is its flexible bed configuration . Most four - threshold motortruck have very curt pickup beds , and the EXT is no exception , boast a 5 - foot 3 - in seam . But here ’s the coolheaded part : The whole rear rampart of the rider compartment can be folded out of the fashion , prolong the cargo bed into the cab , all the style up to the front seats . In this conformation , the bed is 8 - metrical unit 1 - column inch long .
Nissan give away a radical construct truck , also a full - size of it sumptuosity motortruck . They design to launch a full - sized truck within the next several years , and this model is indicative of the case of innovations they are planning .
This conception truck has a " felo-de-se doors " configuration : the two rear doors opened in the opposite direction of the two front room access , and both sets of doors are bounteous and undetermined really astray , with no pillar separating them so that when the doors are capable there is perfectly nothing in your mode .
The Nissan truck also has a novel tailgate , which is hinge from underneath the truck so that when it opens , it forms a footfall near the primer . The total floor of the bed can also slue back to grant for well-off unloading .
Also at the show was the Lincoln Blackwood , a luxury pickup slated for product in 2002 . This truck has a exponent bed cover , as well as a tailboard that is slit in the middle and opens to the sides .
And take the concept to absolute extreme point was the Ford Supercruizer . This huge truck has leather upholstery and all the amenities , plus it can tow just about anything . It is so tall that you have to rise two set of running table to get into it !
Mitsubishi RPM 7000
After the laser - light show eat up and the smoking melt , Mitsubishi ’s exciting , new concept fomite rolled out of a side doorway and onto the stage at this year’sNorth American International Auto Show . Classified as a multi - activity vehicle , this day - glow metallic - orange tree vehicle looks quick for some serious off - route racing . And it should , considering that the vehicle ’s design was inhale by the motorcar ship’s company ’s rally racing team .
The racing influence carries over to the interior of the auto , where you ’ll see a slipstream - car inspired roll - cage and 4 - point safety belt . The four - rider RPM 7000 features extensive use of carbon paper - fibre . Also , the ignition and replacement have all been designed for a driver wearing racing boxing glove .
While the car is built for tough driving conditions , it for sure does n’t lack for high - technical school components . The vehicle feature a touching - screen monitoring equipment that can be used to control the climate system and music system , the latter including a CD - player , satellite radiosignals and MP3 Indian file .
Underneath the Formula - One - inspire nose - cone hood is a 2.0 liter , DOHC , 4 - cylinderenginefeaturing a duplicate - intercooledturbocharger . This railway locomotive can produce 315horsepowerat 6,500 RPM .
2002 Ford Thunderbird
This two - seat convertible buggy has a fashion remindful of the original Thunderbirds of the 1950 ’s .
Powering the Thunderbird is a brand Modern , all - atomic number 13 , 3.9 - cubic decimeter , DOHC , 32 - valve , V-8 engine , producing 252 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 267 ft - lbs oftorqueat 4300 rpm . This engine drives a close - proportion five - speedautomatic transmission .
The Thunderbird comes standard as a sofa bed , with an optional removable hardtop that comprise the distinctive porthole window . The pricing for the 2002 Thunderbird will graze from about $ 35,000 to $ 39,000 .
The Isuzu GBX Concept SUV
Several cars at this yr ’s car show have a retro look to them ; but no one went as far back for intention stirring as Isuzu . The company suppose the idea for its late conception SUV was driven by the original utility vehicle – the stagecoach . you’re able to see hints of the onetime western stagecoach in this SUV ’s aim .
The black roof wheel is built into the vehicle ’s external frame and sketch the self-destruction doors . Upon launch the door , you ’ll find that there is no middle pillar between them , which seems to be a common theme among many of this twelvemonth ’s conception car . The Mazda RX-8 , Honda Model X , Dodge Super8 Hemi and Nissan Truck Concept are among the conception fomite that have been developed without a middle tower . Eliminating this middle pillar , also called theB pillar , gives railway car owners easier introduction into the elevator car and imparts an overall spacious smell .
Isuzu has designed the GBX to be an " automotive backpack " that can carry everything you need . There is a gear port wine built into the cargo logic gate , allow loose memory access to small items stowed in the cargo area . A tool - depot set - up and body of work shelf are incorporated into this port .
The GBX has a V6 , 3.0 - cubic decimeter , DOHC , 24 - valve , direct - injection , turbodiesel engine . One unequaled feature article of this engine is its ceramic particulate filter . The vehicle is 14.6 ft prospicient , 6.2 feet tall ( including the ceiling rack ) and about 5 feet all-encompassing .
GM Concept Cars
General Motors has the big place up at this year ’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit , with the troupe present five 2001 concept cars . The company says that a slice of each railway car ’s technologies will eventually wind up in future production motorcar .
GM ’s visual sense of the future is one that merges designs of sportswoman - utility vehicles ( SUVs ) with designs of place wagons and pick-me-up truck . next GM gondola promise to have dashboard loose of ascendence panels . Instead , drivers will see their displays and gauges projected on to their windshields , and the cars will react to voice command . The following pages are a look at what GM rolled out at the 2001 auto show .
GM Sabia
Sabia , make its world debut on at the 2001 NAIAS , was the first to roll out onto the GM stagecoach .
The Sabia is an SUV with a getaway - truck seam .
GMC Terracross
The long time of understandably - defined vehicle categories is beginning to fade . Many model debuting this hebdomad , including the GMC Terracross , combine dimension of several case of vehicle .
The Terracross is a futuristic SUV that has some very cool high - technical school characteristic , including a roof comprised of three glass panels that can be adjusted electronically into several positions .
Buick Bengal
The Bengal is a roadster - like car that seem to have two seats ; but shrink back the cover let on two rear rider seats , which can be close down down .
Under the thug is a supercharged , 3.4 - liter , V6 engine with 250horsepower . Perhaps the most challenging advance in the Bengal is its streamlined splashboard , which lacks the clutter of traditional gauges and controls . In the hereafter , controls will be fancy onto the windshield , and we ’ll recite our railcar exactly what we need to see .
Oldsmobile O4
The O4 is named for its four - seat , convertible manner – O is for the candid top , or oxygen , and 4 denotes the four seats .
Inside , the O4 is a technophile ’s dream . It has an information ring around the steering column , replacing traditional display panels . The automobile is also fit out to swap information with apersonal digital assistantby style of aSony Memory Stickstorage equipment on the fundamental range and a docking port that usesBluetooth wireless technology .
Cadillac Vizon
The Vizon concept fomite meld the best of an SUV and a station wagon .
The design of the Vizon eliminates protruding objects like rearview mirror . alternatively , the vehicle admit a rearward - view video system . Inside , the car has night vision , adaptative sail ascendance , which conserve a safe distance between the Vizon and the car in front of it , and EZ Francis Scott Key , a twist that identifies the driver through a chip on the key fruit . Once recognition is substantiate , EZ keystone mechanically unlocks the fomite and sets the buns and mirrors to the machine driver ’s preferences .
2002 Jeep Liberty
Daimler - Chrysler started their presentation with a fireside chat by " One Flew Over the Cuckoo ’s Nest " author Ken Kesey . Mr. Kesey reminisce about the day before interstates , quoting , among others , Robert Frost and famous road - tripper Charles Kuralt .
Daimler - Chrysler unveil the 2002 Jeep Liberty SUV , which has some of the character of the original landrover , include good off - road capability , but with a graceful on - route ride – their idea of the perfect vehicle for taking the " road less traveled . " Unlike Ford and GM , Daimler - Chrysler chose to unveil an actual yield auto , rather than a concept car .
One of Daimler - Chrysler ’s visions for this vehicle is that people will customize it , much like they have with the PT Cruiser .
Nissan Z
Nissan unveil its Modern Z construct car today . This car is the replacement to the 1990 300 ZX and the original 1970 240 Z sports car , which was the quickest - selling sports cable car of all fourth dimension . Nissan is hoping to capture the low-priced sportsman - machine market again with the new Z , which will go on sales event in mid-2002 .
Equipped with either a 3.5 - cubic decimeter , V6 locomotive producing more than 360 HP , or a 222 - HP , 3.0 - cubic decimeter V6 , this car should do well .
The new omega read some of its plan cues from the original Z sports car , but is not as retro as such resurgence cars as the Volkswagen Beetle or the Ford Thunderbird .
This fun motorcar should do 0 to 60 miles per hour ( 97 kph ) in less than 6 second gear , and be around $ 30,000 , positioning it in roughly the same category as the original 240 Z.
Ford EX
Ford ’s hand truck division presented the EX concept vehicle – an extension of the Ford Outfitters Family of customized SUVs .
Amazingly , the ex-wife abound through a gargantuan video screen onto the leg . This concept car is designed for one thing only : gamy performance off - route driving .
The car is plan to have a 50 - 50 weight statistical distribution . The dead body panel are made from composite cloth and the framing is chrome - moly steel .
This design study bring out many interesting features that may show up in future yield machine . It has easily removable body panels ; the windshield folds down ; it has four - point tail belt ammunition instead of the three point organisation find in most cars . The trading floor is washable , with drain plugs that have the weewee out of the auto . The steering roulette wheel can move from side to side to make it easy to get in and out of the car . And finally , the upholstery is made from a new material design to be weatherproof and jib fading in the sun .
Dodge Super8 Hemi
Daimler - Chrysler rolled out a unexampled concept car , the sharply - styled Dodge Super8 Hemi . This car make passengers the priority , featuring the car - equivalent of bowl seating – the back seats are higher than the front ones .
Like so many other conception car we ’ve consider at the show , this one has rear - opening rear doors and no b - column branch the front and rear doors . It has a very coolheaded interior – a retro look that incorporate ultra - modern engineering like wireless Internet access code , and phonation ascendancy of many cable car mapping including sound recording , climate - control , telephone and even east - mail !
The rearward passengers also have their ownLCDtouch screen so they can watch movies or get to the Internet . It hassatellite radio , and can play MP3 music that you transfer from your home stereo to the car while it is parked in the private road or garage .
The Super8 Hemi has three side casting , which should give it extra tribute against gouge . And let ’s not forget about the engine , a prototype 5.7 - liter , pushrod V-8 that should generate 353 HP . Like those discover in the original Hemis , this engine has hemispherical combustion chambers .
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire concept car , unveiled by Daimler - Chrysler , is a small , flashy coupe .
This typical two - seater has a 2.7 - liter , 275 horsepower , V-6 locomotive engine , along with nineteen - inch front wheels and immense 21 - inch rearward steering wheel . The designers figure the car will do 0 to 60 miles per hour ( 97 kph ) in about 5.8 secondment .
The Crossfire also have some telling technology ; but , unlike the Super8 Hemi , this engineering science is shoot for at foreground the carrying out of the car , rather than entertaining the passengers . The car has a data - skill system , much like the ones used onChamp Cars , that displays information on speedup and other performance parameters .
Jeep Willys
One of the most recognizable vehicle on the route since World War II has been the original Jeep Wrangler . At this week ’s auto show , Daimler Chrysler revealed a 21st century variation of the Jeep . The Jeep Willys ( pronounced Wil - eez ) is key for the early landrover that were build by Willys - Overland .
The Willys ' eubstance is made with injection - molded credit card , a new eubstance - technology that bring through up to 50 percent in body weighting and manufacturing costs . The injection - mold plastic allows room decorator to create shapes that ca n’t be made with conventional emboss metallic element . And this charge plate is nearly 100 pct recyclable .
Another striking feature of the Willys design is the light gray tires from Michelin , which compliment the coloring of the fomite ’s body . Inside , the Willys concept has asatellite - radioreceiver work up into the pastel - green hyphen .
The Jeep Willys is powered by a 1.6 l , in - line four - cylinder locomotive that bring on 160 horsepower . It has a four - speedautomatic transmissionand a transmutation - on - the - fly transferee case with full - time four - wheel drive .
Honda X
Honda ’s Model X concept vehicle is aim squarely at unseasoned , dynamic Male – their direction chemical group were college - age male attending sporting events . The Model X is sort of a cross between a pickup , an sport utility vehicle and a mini - vanguard .
The vehicle is plan to hold everything from breakers board to mountain bikes . The trading floor is made from a rainproof washable material , and the seat are also very easy to clean . The level is monotonic , so you could sleep in the fomite , and there is a novel sunroof in the rear .
Equipped with a seafaring system , DVD participant , satellite radio , wireless cyberspace connector and a stereo that also plays MP3s , which it can download from the Web , the X seems to have everything but a beer fridge .
Like a couple of the other concepts we ’ve seen , the X has no b - column – when the door are open , the whole side of the vehicle is undecided and accessible .
Volvo Safety Concept Car
Volvo rolled out its 2001 concept motorcar , include one laden with new guard feature article that you may encounter in your next car . The Volvo Safety Concept Car ( SCC ) has been designed to give the driver increase control and profile .
unexampled technology develop for the car allows the fomite ’s inside to adjust to the driver ’s centre and body size . detector skim the exact office of the driver ’s eye and then adjust the driver ’s seat to offer the in effect potential vision . The steering wheel , trading floor , foot lever and center console table also adjust to a more comfortable spot for the driver .
The SCC includes active rearview mirror and rear bumper sensor that alarm the equipment driver to approaching traffic in the unsighted spot . Rear - facing cameras also add to the driver ’s area of imagination . Adaptive headlamp supervise the auto ’s speed and steering wheel apparent movement and conform lighting to suit advancement . For example , at mellow speed , lightbeams are given a longsighted reach . The car is also equip with an infrared light enhancer to improve night sight .
Drivers moving outside of their lane will be monish by the car ’s stay on - in - lane engineering . Forward - face camera monitor the car ’s position in relation to the route ’s centerline and side - marker lines for 20 meters ahead of the car . If the car begins to veer out of the lane , a admonition is sounded .
The SCC also has a new feature that is close to being incorporated into next Volvo cars . Volvo showed off two types of 4 - point safety belts in this car . These rap are designed to restrain resident more securely during accidents . The X4 CrissCross harness belt is a schematic 3 - point safety belt that includes a retractable , diagonal dresser - bang that extends from the shoulder to the hip . The Center Buckle V4 swath is exchangeable to the harness used in rush along railroad car . This type of belt is break over the articulatio humeri like backpack strap , and shrink back into the arse ’s figure when not in use .
Volvo Adventure
The Volvo Adventure Concept Car ( ACC ) also had its first show at the auto show . The caller suppose that although it design to introduce an SUV within the next two year , the Adventure would n’t be that vehicle . alternatively , the ACC will be used to draw customer feedback when the auto show is open to the public next week .
Infiniti FX45
Infiniti is one of several carmakers who have debut a case of fomite being called a " crossing over SUV . " These are SUV that are n’t quite sport utility vehicle , targeted at driver who want an off - road aspect that has an graceful conception . Infiniti ’s starter into this market is the FX45 concept fomite .
As with all conception cars , the FX45 may never be built ; but Infiniti will probably build something standardised to it . The FX45 has the look of a bionic Acinonyx jubatus in a hunker down position ready to pounce .
While the exterior has the design of an SUV , the inside is more like a high - end sports car . It has a tight inside ; but its glass roof gives it the feel of a roomier car . In the rear , passenger feature include a rear game system , DVD videoand water bottle cooler . A 9.5 - inchLCD displaywith navigation and audio system controls , plus Internet and einsteinium - mail access , is just to the rightfield of the number one wood .
Under the FX45 ’s hood there is a 32 - valve , 4.5 - liter , DOHC , V8 railway locomotive that produces more than 300 horsepower . It is equip with a vehicular control system of rules for improved stability . A optical maser - basedadaptive cruise control systemis also integrated into the car . adaptative sail control is a Modern technology that allows a automobile to follow the car in front of it , continually re - aline its hurrying to maintain a dependable distance .
Mazda RX-8
Mazda unveiled a new version of the orbitual locomotive engine , at the same time show off a new concept car design to use it . The Mazda RX-8 is very close to what a possible production car will search like ; but Mazda has n’t announce plans to build it just yet .
This four - rider mutant car is powered by the new RENESIS circle engine . Unlike previous orbitual engines , which had side intake port and peripheral exhaust larboard , the RENESIS has intake and exhaust port wine in the side housing . This frame-up eliminates overlap between the opening of the intake and exhaust ports , enhancing burning efficiency . The intake larboard are 30 percent large , and their timing has been changed so they spread sooner than in the older rotary engine . The RENESIS locomotive engine bring about 250 horsepower .
One of the coolest features of the RX-8 is the " freestyle door system , " which has obviate the center pillar ( a coarse musical theme at this auto show ) . This intent makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seats .
Ford Forty-Nine
Today we saw Ford CEO Jac Nasser and VP of Design J Mays unveil the Ford Forty - Nine concept car . This retro car was introduced after Ford displayed two original 1949 Fords , one stock and one extremely customized .
The Forty - Nine Concept car has many retro styling elements , include a modern , 3.9 - liter , DOHC , 32 - valve , V-8 engine that is land up with brush untainted steel , chrome and satin - black blusher .
at bottom are more retro features ; the standard of measurement and controller are finished in brushed stainless steel , in a dewy-eyed rotund seedpod .
The car also has a roof that is almost all glass , and the pillar separating the front and rearward side windows is invisible , so the cabin has the tactile property of a greenhouse .
BMW X Coupe
BMW unveil a stunning next - generation sport car at the NAIAS . The 4 - seat X Coupe convertible immix sports - railway car styling with off - road capability . But it is truly a high - performance sports car at heart , with a 3.0 - cubic decimeter , coarse - rail injection , 6 - cylinder , turbodiesel railway locomotive boasting 184 horsepower .
One of the coolheaded features of the gondola is the paddle on the steering wheel that allow the driver to shift gears , similar to the configuration onFormula One race cars . However , unlike a Formula One car , the X coupe has an reflex transmitting .
Low-Mass Concept Vehicle Design
As the major car manufacturers are showing off their best concept and yield ideas , student designers have presented some intriguing excogitation of their own . One forward - mean design has cast the interest of car companies such as Ford and Toyota . Herain Patel , a plan scholarly person at the Center for Creative Studies - College of Art and Design in Detroit , has aim a depressed - batch vehicle .
Patel ’s excogitation would allow for a car to have interchangeable part , so that fewer pieces would need to be molded , and less glass would have to be cut to different sizing . For example , the front gadget driver - side door would be interchangeable with the rear passenger - side door . That would also knead with the rear driver - side door and the front rider room access .
The car would weigh about 30 percent less than current car of comparable size , according to Carl Olsen , an instructor at the centre . Because the railway car utilise interchangeable parts , it would be crummy to make . It will in all likelihood be market to developing part of the humanity , such as India . A running image of the car could be develop in just a few age .
VW Microbus
In the spirit of the new VW Beetle , Volkswagen award a VW Microbus construct automobile . This car is reminiscent of the original 1960s microbuses .
The snout is a little longer than the original microbus , accommodating innovative collapse standards .
Volkswagen also presented some scale simulation of potential Microbus configurations , such as the pop - up motor home top .
There was also a pickup arm / autobus configuration !
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper made its return at the NAIAS . Now possess by BMW , this 40 - year - old car , which is very popular in the British Isles , has been update and modernized , but it retains all of its original appeal .
This bantam gondola , which is less than 12 feet long , is powered by a 115 - HP , 1.6 - cubic decimeter , 16 - valve , four - cylinder engine . With the car ’s light exercising weight , this powerplant should give it snappy performance .
The Mini should be on sale in the US by early 2002 , price at about $ 18,000 .
Audi Steppenwolf
Audi ’s Steppenwolf concept vehicle , which was unveiled at the 2000 Paris Auto Show , made its North American debut at the 2001 NAIAS in Detroit . The Steppenwolf is another of the many crossover SUV concepts being represent at this year ’s show . It is plan to be an off - road vehicle that is equally at habitation in the Australian outback as it is on 5th Avenue in Manhattan .
A 3.2 - liter , V6 engine power the two - room access Steppenwolf . generate 225 HP , this engine takes the Steppenwolf from 0 to 62 statute mile per hour ( 100 kph ) in just under eight seconds . It tops out at 143 miles per hour ( 230 kph ) .
On the interior , passengers and driver will find an graceful look . The instrument panel is cover with brake shoe - lonesome leather , and a navigation system with LCD monitor is integrated into the inwardness dash . The seat are covered with black and cognac beige leather , which is also used for the leather inserts in the footwell .
One alone feature article of the Steppenwolf can be constitute in the back of the fomite . A drawer under the luggage compartment houses the spare steering wheel ; this moving compartment can also be used to carry a tire - repair kit and a 12 - volt compressor . An alternative drawer cut-in supply distance for a windlass . The fomite can suit two running card , which can be bond below the side doorway .
