2013 Chicago Auto Show
The media events seemed lack luster this year, but featured a very cool concept Kia crossover, the new Toyota Tundra and a Chevy turbo diesel.
It was a pretty easy day other than the business attire costume change I had to make for the luncheon that didn’t really require business attire after all.
Toyota Group Vice President Bill Fay speaks during the debut of the 2014 Toyota Tundra at the Chicago Autoshow, February 7, 2013. REUTERS/John Gress
Toyota redesigns 2014 Tundra to appeal to truck buyers
By Deepa Seetharaman, Reuters
CHICAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp unveiled a redesigned Tundra pickup truck on Thursday with a back-up camera, easier-to-use controls and other features designed to take advantage of the lucrative U.S. truck market’s anticipated growth.
Toyota last overhauled the Tundra in 2007 to crack a market for full-work trucks dominated by General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler Group LLC. At the time, Toyota executives referred to the Tundra as their most important product launch ever.
But the 2007 Tundra launch coincided with a slowdown in U.S. home construction that hurt truck sales that year and forced the Japanese automaker to pile on incentives to win over buyers… Read More
The Kia Cross GT makes its debut at the Chicago Autoshow, February 7, 2013. REUTERS/John Gress
Kia aims for luxury crossover with Cross GT concept
By Deepa Seetharaman, Reuters
Feb 7 (Reuters) – Kia Motors Corp unveiled a concept version of a large, luxury crossover vehicle on Thursday that represents a crucial part of the South Korean automaker’s effort to compete with more upscale brands in the U.S. auto market.
The Cross GT concept, shown at the Chicago Auto Show, is another sign of Kia’s newfound direction under Peter Schreyer, who has overhauled Kia’s designs since joining the company from Audi in 2006.
This new push was first hinted at nearly two years ago with the Kia GT concept, a rear-wheel-drive sedan, which, like the Cross GT, was developed by Schreyer, now Kia president and head of design for both Kia and its sister company Hyundai … Read More
The Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel engine makes its debut at the Chicago Autoshow, February 7, 2013. REUTERS/John Gress
GM’s new Chevrolet Cruze hitches ride on diesel wave
By Deepa Seetharaman
CHICAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – General Motors Co will offer a diesel version of its Chevrolet Cruze compact car in North America, marking the largest U.S. automaker’s first attempt in nearly three decades to tackle a growing market now dominated by German automakers.
The 2014 Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, which goes on sale this summer, competes in a segment that could account for 7.7 percent of the U.S. auto market by 2018, up from 3.1 percent in 2012, according to LMC Automotive.
GM engineers adapted the automaker’s existing diesel engine already offered in Europe to meet stringent emission standards and more varied temperatures and altitudes in North America… Read More
Henrik Fisker, co-founder, executive chairman, and
chief designer at Fisker Automotive waits to speak during the Chicago Autoshow, February 7, 2013. REUTERS/John Gress
Fisker to restart auto production ‘fairly soon’
By Deepa Seetharaman, Reuters
CHICAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Fisker Automotive Inc, the “green car” company that has not produced a vehicle since July, expects to restart production of its Karma plug-in hybrid “fairly soon,” Executive Chairman Henrik Fisker said on Thursday.
Fisker added that the Southern California automaker expects A123 Systems Inc to continue to supply batteries for the Karma, which launched in the United States more than a year ago.
In a deal finalized last month, A123 was bought out of bankruptcy by the U.S. unit of Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto parts maker. Fisker had said previously that it was waiting for the A123 sale to clear before resuming output… Read More
This article was written by John Gress