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NEWS ARCHIVE :
North American International Auto Show – Day 2
Detroit, Michigan
January 14, 2008
It was another eco-focused day at the Detroit Auto Show - with a few high-performance machines thrown in. Finally!
Cadillac CTS-V and CTS Coupe
While the lid was already blown wide open on the CTS-V, it was impressive to behold in person. The exterior changes to the CTS-V are subtle yet effective. Interestingly, Caddy decided to use plenty of chrome on the V, rather than blacking out details like the grille.
The interior is also a sight to behold and the seats appear to be very well bolstered.
Cadillac did manage to keep one surprise under wraps, however, and that was the CTS Coupe.
It looked rather bulbous and oddly shaped on the stage, but when you stood next to it the proportions improved. It could still use a more defined trunk to eliminate the hatchback look.
This model was powered by a 2.9-liter turbo diesel engine that makes 250 hp and a very-American 406 ft-lbs of torque.
Lexus LF-A Roadster
Another concept car, the LF-A Roadster, was over at the Lexus booth. The fact that Lexus is still playing around with this concept is a good sign that it will eventually come to fruition. Unfortunately, the longer they delay building this car, the less impressive a 500-hp V10 engine becomes.
The roadster looks good, but it is quite obvious that the car was always meant to be a coupe. The oddly shaped headlights and a few of the other lines give the car a Batmobile feel.
When the LF-A does make it to production, which we assume it will, it would benefit from an improved interior with more metals, Alcantara and carbon fiber. Lexus did a great job on the IS-F interior. It just needs to apply some similar ideas to the LF-A and then take the whole thing up a notch.
Audi R8 TDI 4.2 V8
To clear up much of the mystery surrounding the Audi R8 TDI, we spoke to Audi PR manager Christian Bokich. While he didn't say whether the V12 TDI would make production, he did suggest another possible engine option: a bi-turbo V8 TDI engine that is currently used in several production models in Europe. The horsepower number is less than impressive, with just 326 ponies at 2370 rpm, but torque is a walloping 479 ft-lbs at just 1600 rpm.
Maserati Collezione Cento
Maserati continued its bespoke tradition by unveiling the Quattroporte Collezione Cento, of which only 100 will be produced. Clad in ivory white, the Collezione Cento sat at the center of the Maserati display. This new QP treats the driver well with a 400-hp, 4.2-liter V8. It might just treat the passengers better, though. The interior is ultra-luxurious and the backs of the front-seat headrests feature 10-inch LCD screens. The center armrest also has a built-in keypad to make checking e-mail and surfing the Net that much easier.
Fisker Karma
The newly created Fisker Automotive Corporation launched its very first vehicle at NAIAS, the Karma hybrid luxury sedan. Fisker even had a prime spot at the auto show, right next to Rolls-Royce.
Quantum Technologies supplies the Q Drive powerplant, a lithium-ion and gasoline hybrid system. Unlike normal hybrids, the gasoline portion of this system kicks in only when the car has exhausted the battery pack, which the company claims can power the car for 50 miles on a single charge. To recharge the battery pack, the car needs to be plugged into a standard electrical outlet overnight.
During the press conference, Henrik Fisker, the company’s CEO and designer of the Karma, said 60 percent of Americans and Europeans drive less than 50 miles per day, so most people will never have to fill the gas tank.
This is not the first project for Quantum Technologies. The company has been building hybrids for years and supplies other OEMs. Quantum Technologies also builds military vehicles like the Aggressor.
As for the performance of the Karma, Fisker claims it will sprint to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and top out at a reasonable 125 mph (quite possibly its only downside). The cars will be priced at approximately $80,000 USD and will be available in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Ferrari F430 Bio Fuel Concept
Even Ferrari had an environmentally friendly vehicle at this year’s NAIAS. Sitting on the side of its stand was a silver F430 Spyder with "Bio Fuel" written across the door in green letters. The vehicle was barely mentioned in Ferrari’s press conference, but we did learn that this concept car was converted to run on E85 ethanol and the results were positive: power improved by 10 hp and emissions were reduced by five percent.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce didn't have any new vehicles on display, but it did announce that two will be arriving – eventually. The Phantom Coupe will be the first, with a smaller Rolls-Royce to follow. The smaller car is apparently already built and features a brand new engine.
These two models are expected to at least double Rolls-Royce’s production numbers, which reached an all-time record in 2007, with 1,010 sold (the first time the ultra-exclusive auto manufacturer has exceeded the 1,000-car mark).
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