Detroit Motor Show takes place at turning point for motor industry
Wed 14 January 2009
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One of the World's biggest Motor Shows took place in Detroit in January against the challenging backdrop of the most severe downturn to face the industry in decades and unprecedented pressures on the industry to get 'greener'.
Over 650,000 people attended the Show despite inclement weather which the BBC observed provided "a fitting parallel to the economic blizzard that has swept through the US car industry in the past year".
Many of the industry's leading players stayed away from the Show; a reflection of the economic circumstances. In addition to the European luxury carmakers Porsche, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, the Japanese manufacturers Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Suzuki also withdrew from the Show. Other manufacturers scaled back their involvement.
There were, nevertheless, about 20 new launches at the Show, many of them of vehicles emphasising environmentally improved credentials.
General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda all announced updates on their updated plans to offer consumers all-electric or hybrid-powered vehicles in the next few years.
Ford said it will have a small electric car ready for launch in 2011 that would get 100 miles to a charge, as well as a plug-in hybrid by 2012. It will also offer an electric commercial van in 2010.
Toyota showed off its FT-EV electric concept and said it would launch an electric car for city commuting by 2012 in the United States.
Nissan also promoted plans to commercialize electric cars and Honda said it will begin selling the Insight, the first of its next generation hybrid cars, in Japan in February, followed by launches in Europe and the United States in March and April.
Chrysler showed a 200C EV concept vehicle; a performance sedan capable of driving up to 40 miles on battery-only power, with a small petrol engine and integrated electric generator that produces electricity to extend the driving range to 400 miles.
The same hybrid 40/400-mile powertrain powers a new Jeep Patriot EV (ho hah!) and Chrysler Town & Country EV vehicles.
Volkswagen unveiled its Concept BlueSport diesel sports car, which combines rapid accleration with reasonable economy (41mpg).
Lexus announced that its 2010 HS 250h luxury hybrid is 85 per cent recyclable.
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