Detroit 2009: Eyes on Design Awards for best concept, best production vehicle

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Supercars, Audi, BMW, Cadillac

Click any image above for a high-res gallery

Each year, the Detroit Auto Show plays host to the Eyes on Design Awards, where a group of judges descend into the bowels of Cobo Hall to pick their favorite vehicles from the show. The nominees are predictably divided into two categories: Design Excellence for a Concept Vehicle and Design Excellence for a Production Vehicle.

This year's ceremony was MC'd by our very own John McElroy from Autoline Detroit, with judging duties handled by BMW design head Chris Bangle, Harley-Davidson chief styling officer Willy G. Davidson, and transportation design chair at the College for Creative Studies Larry Erickson. The two winners for production vehicle were the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the 2010 BMW Z4, while Audi Sportback and Cadillac Converj took home the best concept awards. Check out all four vehicles in the galleries below and let the judges know your own picks in the comments.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Gallery: Detroit 2009: BMW Z4

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi Sportback Concept

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj

Detroit 2009: Eyes on Design Awards for best concept, best production vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Best automaker cutaway displays

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Tech

Click above for high-res gallery of NAIAS cutaways

Cutaway displays have been a staple of auto shows for many years, but we're noticing that more and more automakers are devoting money and floor space to cutaway displays. Aside from being cool to look at, cutaways are an increasingly valuable tool for explaining today's advanced technologies -- particularly when it comes to the complex systems found in alternative-fuel vehicles. Check out the gallery below to see how different automakers are taking the hinges off for the viewing public at the Detroit Auto Show.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: The Cutaways

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Detroit 2009: Best automaker cutaway displays originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Volvo

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Volvo S60 Concept

Next month in Detroit, the Volvo S60 Concept will serve up a teaser for the 2010 production sedan that'll likely debut later in the show season. The S60 Concept demonstrates that Volvo's new sedan will ditch the rather conservative duds it currently wears in favor of a new, much more aggressive visual ensemble. Profile views show off a coupe-ish roofline, while pointed headlights extend back onto the fenders and flank a reshaped, more detailed grille up front. The concept's rear is similarly detailed, with LED taillamps that hide the various signal colors until they are actually illuminated.

Gallery: Volvo S60 Concept

Continue reading Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept

Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan back on for Chicago Auto Show, still avoiding Detroit

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Nissan

That was short lived. Just a few days after announcing that it would be pulling out of both the Detroit Auto Show and the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan has changed its mind. Sort of. The Japanese automaker will indeed have a presence in the Windy City thanks to the support of its local dealerships, which will be manning the show in lieu of an official factory effort. This being the case, don't expect a particularly showy display, but at least attendees will get the chance to see the new 370Z, Cube and Infiniti G37 Convertible that were all unveiled across the country at the LA Auto Show. According to Nissan, there's next to no chance that the situation for Detroit will change.

To recap, Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce have all pulled out of the International Auto Show in Detroit. All's not lost, though, as room is now available for a couple of Chinese upstarts to show their wares at the big boy table upstairs.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Nissan back on for Chicago Auto Show, still avoiding Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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