Detroit auto show 2013

DETROIT--When Bentley parted ways with Rolls-Royce in 1998, it still had some co-developed models in its line-up. The last of those, the Arnage sedan, has finally been replaced with a new flagship sedan, the Mulsanne, representing Bentley's new beginning under Volkswagen ownership.

Designed for absolute luxury, the Mulsanne gets a cabin filled with detailed coachwork, a powerful and sophisticated power train, Volkswagen's latest navigation system, and an outstanding audio system from Naim.

We spent some time looking over the Muslanne's details at the 2010 Detroit auto show and found a cabin that is covered in impeccable materials. … Read more

DETROIT--With Europe clamping down on CO2 emissions and Americans wanting to pay less at the pump, it would seem that big, luxury sedans would lose popularity. But BMW offers a couple of choices to keep its flagship 7-series sedan in favor. The company showed two new versions at the 2010 Detroit auto show, one with reduced engine size and a mild hybrid.

The new 740i marks a return to when the 7-series was powered by a mere 6 cylinders, rather than the 8 and 12 of recent years. But this car is no slouch, as its engine is a similar … Read more

DETROIT--The Buick Regal and Chevy Aveo may not sound like cars for the racetrack, but GM decided to show how it can turn a turtle into a rabbit. The company launched two show cars, the Buick Regal GS and the Chevy Aveo RS, at the 2010 Detroit auto show. As show cars, neither is meant for production.

The Chevy Aveo RS precedes the launch of the next generation of this little car, and serves to build excitement about a model that could really use some. GM won't reveal yet how much of the body work of the RS will … Read more

DETROIT--In search of what it calls a MegaCity vehicle, BMW launched a concept electric car at the 2010 Detroit auto show. The Concept ActiveE, an electric car built on the 1-series platform, will serve as the basis for a test fleet of electric cars that will further BMW's research toward its ultimate goal.

Currently, BMW is running a test fleet of 600 electric Minis, the MiniE, with vehicles in the hands of private users. The Concept ActiveE is the next car BMW intends to test, planning an even larger fleet.

Starting with the 1-series chassis and body, BMW fitted … Read more

DETROIT--Cadillac's latest concept, the XTS Platinum, looks like an attempt to compete directly with the Lexus LS 600h. Both cars have a hybrid power train, luxury interiors, LED headlights, and all-wheel-drive. If Cadillac brings the XTS to production, its competition will be ready and waiting.

One of Cadillac's stated reasons for building the XTS Platinum is to showcase its Platinum label, previously used for a special edition of the Escalade. Cadillac's Platinum cars get hand-built coachwork, with fine leather, wood, and metal. Given the European cars with which Cadillac wants to compete, this level of luxury is … Read more

DETROIT--Since Chrysler was absorbed by Fiat's global car empire, we've been waiting impatiently to see what direction the now Italian-owned company's cars would take. Our first clue came at the 2010 Detroit auto show, in the form of a new Chrysler model lacking a name or any publicity, but sporting a suspicious-looking grille.

This Chrysler is a Lancia Delta in disguise, a car sold in Europe as a mammoth family wagon, but appearing more compact in the U.S. Actually, we like the form factor of this Chrysler Delta, with its stylish curving lines framing practical interior … Read more

DETROIT--Of GM's four remaining brands, GMC was supposed to stick to big trucks and SUVs, but the company pulled a fast one at the 2010 Detroit auto show, bringing out a concept the size of a Scion xB. The Granite is a design study into how GMC might build vehicles for urban dwellers.

From our standpoint, the Granite looks feasible from the exterior design. The box on wheels has proved a popular shape for Scion and Kia, more recently. Not only does it have an individual look, but the interior space is very practical for a wide variety of … Read more

DETROIT--At the 2010 Detroit auto show, we got a hands-on, and ears-on, demonstration of the 2011 Audi A8. As the A8 is Audi's flagship luxury sedan, it showcases the company's latest technologies. This latest model uses a touchpad for character recognition, making destination input much easier, gets an updated Bang & Olufsen audio system that reproduces music with near perfect staging, and later this year will also feature a UMTS data connection for Google map searches.

Audi has been steadily updating its Multimedia Interface (MMI) over the years, and introduced a third-generation MMI last year. Although Audi still … Read more

DETROIT--With few actual specifications to be had, Toyota showed off a new hybrid concept at the 2010 Detroit auto show, the FT-CH. This small hybrid would come in at a lower price than the Prius, offering an entry-level option for eco-conscious buyers.

The car came out of Toyota's European design center in Nice, France, and employs many typical concept flourishes. The LED headlights are set back from the front fenders in a configuration that would probably not past muster by most countries' regulations. The cabin has a monumental instrument cluster with graphics that look vaguely Klingon.

In a presentation … Read more