I'm here at the North American International Auto Show, attached is the official Media Information for the MINI.

Some of the highlights are the new Automatic Transmission with Steptronic for the Cooper S, the Limited Slip Differential, and the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit (including the 210bhp engine kit, the suspension kit, brakes, and sport seats).

...but my favorite parts are the complimentary fruit smoothies and live DJ!

 

How long does the show last for? I'm going to be i town on the 24th!

 

You'll just miss it Haf - public days are from Jan. 15th to Jan. 23rd.

Here's the website for the show

MarkS is taking some pictures - we'll post some of the highlights as soon as we filter though them (about 6 gig's of pics taken just today! )

Also, here are The Car Connection's blazingly fast write ups (they literally have a team for each manufacturer, grab the press kit and RUN up to the Media Room, too funny!)

2005 Detroit Auto Show, Part I

2005 Detroit Auto Show, Part II

2005 Detroit Auto Show, Part III

quickly (before I pass out), Chrysler/Jeep put on the best display/show today with the awesome Jeep Gladiator, Chrysler Firepower, and outrageous Jeep Hurricane. Ford get's my thumbs down for today for most boring/lackluster efforts

In terms of MINI kinda-competition, no Mazdaspeed3 yet, but a suprise (for me) was the Mercedes-Benz Compact Sports Tourer Vision B. I think this is going to be the upcoming B-class, but don't quote me on that yet. It's probably more of an Audi A3 competetor, but it's loads cooler and more stylish than the rather boring looking (and a bit hunchback) A3. Another big suprise were the two new Saturn's; Aura (4-door midsize sedan) and Sky (kappa based roadster), which looked very well styled (gasp!), and defintely worthy looking vehicles instead of the tupperware Saturn is known for.

More tomorrow - the BMW/MINI press conference is tomorrow

 

You mean to say, "How long does the show last?" Don't end your setences with a preposition

 

" A preposition is something you should never end a sentence with."

 

The smoothies are excellent! I'll have some shots soon. Of cars, mostly--not smoothies.

Mark

 

Okay, just one of smoothies.

Mark

 

can't wait to see your pics!

- drew

 

Man, we don't get more than one or two concept cars at the DC show!

 

So from the sounds of that the JCW Seats will be making it to the States??? Awesome if its true.

 

Today at the show was busy busy. After Mark and I missed Lincoln/Mercury (oh no, not!) we saw the Dodge Charger debut, then the Porsche 911 Cabrio (woah the new Boxster is niiiice!), then oogled the BMW //M5 some more, then the Hyundai Sonanta (a big step up for them), then the new Infiniti M45 (with built-in 5.1 surround sound!), then the new Ferrari F430 (woah to die for beautiful, great interior, ceramic brakes), then the phenomenal and total suprise Honda Ridgeline (bed door opens two ways and it has a car-like trunk!), then the snooze-fest from Ford's PAG, followed by the super boring Toyota Avalon (not as nice as the old one, grr).

....then....the Chevrolet Corvette Z-06, C6R, and Caddilac STS-V (all awesome!)

Thankfully (as the rumor goes) I missed the Mitsu Eclipse debut (Mark and I were snapping pics of the super-cool M-B B-class again )...and finally the Mazda MX Sportcross - which is kinda cool.

Ryan's Fearless Daily Awards for Sunday:
*Best Showmanship: Chrysler/Jeep. A phenomenal presentation! Linking personal bonding with heritage, each of the three vehicles presented had context for me to bond with each - regardless of my current personal preferences. Excellent marketing, two thumbs up!
*"Why are you still in business?": Ford. The awful concepts, especially the bank vault thing (I can't even remember the name, I blocked it out). The Fairlane was not only the ressurection of a badly remembered nameplate, but yet another stupid boxy wannabe crossover. YAWN.
*"Where are the keys!?!": Mercedes Benz Compact Sports Tourer Vision B (yes, the prototype of the new B-class). Super cool styling right on the edge of out-of-control, yet still classy and taut. I can't wait to drive one!
*The Redeeming Award: Tie between Saturn Aura and Volkswagen Jetta. First the Jetta - awful looking in the pictures (can you say: minivan?) but in person, it's much better! Clean, tight and simple, the profile isn't as offensive as the photos suggest. The Aura is replacing the L series, but is a cut above in every aesthetic respect. Very stylish yet not sloppy, awkward or typically GM looking; I was not only impressed, but shocked GM could really make something Cool, real!



Ryan's Fearless Daily Awards for Monday:
*Best Showmanship: GM for the Z-06, C6R, and STS-V. In a basically boring day of european/japanese suits rattling off sales figures behind podiums, Ron Fellows drove a C6R on stage, revving the engine the whole way there and back, LOUD! Yea Dodge put on a show for the Charger, but the whole NASCAR thing was an even bigger turn off for me, and since it's my award, sucks for them!
*"Why are you still in business?": Jaguar, with the me-too Aston Martin DB9 derived coupe, and the pathetic plead for purpose during the press conference.
*"Where are the keys!?!": Smart Roadster - it was tempting me to use it as a scooter to get around the show floor with
*The Redeeming Award: Lamborghini. Last year they were very bitter and refused to let anyone near their cars. This year they redeemed themselves and not only let us get near them, but let us sit in 'em too! The Gallardo has a very nice interior, even if it literally smells and looks like an Audi

 

The sloppy formatting (especially pagination) tells me that the document came from Europe on A-sized paper (~8"x12")

 

Infiniti unveiled a new concept vehicle at NAIAS and it looks like a giant 4-door MC gone wrong:

 

OMG!!! Way wrong! It looks like someone gave their engineers a MINI and challenged them to see how ugly they could make it.

 

"This is the sort of English up with which I will not put." Winston Churchill (attr.)

 

The bent roofline on that infinity just throws the whole look off IMO. What is the purpose?

 

Gone WAY wrong!
Right down to the wheels.
How much do those "S-Lites" weigh?

 

The Ford Fairlane is also a close rip-off of the MINI too, scaled up but not quite as much as the super-awkward Infiniti.

I errored about the Lincoln/Mercury conference - turns out they showed a motorcycle chopper that was built by Oakland County Choppers (of Discovery Channel fame)

 

A new Fairlane??? Can we also expect a new Futura or Fairmont from Ford too? Maybe they'll dust off the Edsel badge.

 

It WOULD have been the Futura but Pep Boys now owns the name as a tire brand!

 

Actually no, the Fusion would have been Futura but Pepboys took the name. Just like how the Ford GT would have stayed the GT40 but some piddly little company bought the rights years ago out from Ford's nose....

 

Mark:

Great pix. I like the "fill'er up" over the smothie maker's head.

 

When I lived in Cincinnati my son and I would venture north to Detroit to see the show. It's where I first saw the Mini up close and personnel. The next year we could actually sit in them., and I started dreaming about one. Now I'm retired living in FL and my new baby is sitting out side enjoying the warm weather.
The show was always alot of fun to attend. In later years we would get a room so we didn't have to do the 4-5 hour drive real early, go to the show, then come home. My son always liked to see the concept cars.

keith

 

I agree, it wouldnt look as bad it it had a straight roof. The lumpy roof just makes it look like it got in a bad accident.

 

Ryan,

if I knew that you were there during the media days we could have met.

Too bad. Well....there is next year. I tried to get the info on the LSD to retrofit to an 04 tranny. I know...they say it can not be done but the tranny is the same except the gear ratios so it should work. Nobody knew anything about it.

Alex