Detroit Auto Show 2012: Elantra Wins Big, 2013 Ford Fusion Showcased

Detroit Auto Show 2012: Elantra Wins Big, 2013 Ford Fusion Showcased.The 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit opened on Saturday, and a winner at the beginning of the show was Hyundai Elantra which beat the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat to win North American Car of the Year. As AP reported:

The prestigious industry was announced in early North American International Auto Show in Detroit, home media previews this week and opens to the public on Saturday.
The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque won the North American Truck of the Year, beating the BMW X3 and Honda CR-V. The bishop, who starts at $ 43,995, gets about 18 miles per gallon in city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Jaguar Land Rover North America President Andy Goss says it's a great honor and humility for the company, which was finalist but never a winner at the 19th annual awards program independent.

"We will market the hell out of it," said a smiling Goss on a stage above the four-cylinder SUV. The United States is the largest market in the world Range Rover.

Fifty automotive journalists voted on the winning vehicles of a group of finalists, and all vehicles must be new or substantially changed in order to qualify. The organizers accept no advertising, although the manufacturers to capitalize on the marketing value of honor.

Also seeks to strengthen its Ford, which unveiled its next generation of the Ford Fusion at the auto show. As Cars.com reported:

Car buyers returned to the family sedan in December and a new series of products will greet them in 2012. Ford launches things with the next-generation Fusion, which hits U.S. dealerships this fall and international markets as the Mondeo in early 2013.

Ford says 70% of consumers consider mid-sized sedans such as a double band, and 43% of their trade that they have done just to have something different. Cuts through this merger, falling into Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata territory outside-the-box style. Concept design elements of Evos mirror last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, with thin headlights that sweep to clear the front fenders and a low front grille. The beltline is visually flat - in contrast to the rising lines on most sedans - and the bumper runs flush with the trunk lid with integrated exhaust pipes underneath. Wheels 16 to 19 inches and trim levels include S, SE and titanium. There will also Fusion plug-in hybrid models and Energy, energy arrives near the end of the year.

Inside, the Fusion takes My Ford touch with a few more physical buttons, and latches to help your fingers find the contact points. Thinner seats free up legs back, and Ford said he moved the panel closer to the ice for an "airy, open environment" - a different approach over the Taurus, which is anything but. Security options of high-tech rival many luxury cars, with Lane Departure Warning and Mitigation System, drowsiness pilot detection and adaptive cruise control with collision warning forward. A blind spot warning system, cross-traffic warning system and Ford automatic parking are also an option.

Cadillac is using the Detroit Auto Show to introduce a new model that it hopes can compete with the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, Cadillac ATS. As explained Cars.com:

Cadillac had fighting words safeguard the ATS, a car that GM North America President Mark Reuss said will challenge German supremacy in the sport sedan segment. Boasting the latest brand small sedan, Reuss said ATS is "the most mass efficient car in its segment", with a curb weight of well under 3.400 pounds. The proof is in the pipe, but the ATS is the Cadillac and it does not appear voluntarily reduced.

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2013 Cadillac ATS Puts An American Spin On Luxury

2013 Cadillac ATS Puts An American Spin On Luxury.With the ATS 2013 Cadillac, General Motors hopes to create an American definition of luxury compact.

Light and luxurious, powerful and fuel efficient, Cadillac for the ATS to buyers of the BMW 3 Series and the world's best compact sport sedan. Sales of the car launch this summer will mark the first foray since the 1980 Cadillac in compact cars, which have the highest sales of any luxury segment.

"We intend for it to be not only a compelling new challenger, but a winner. Anyone who knows me and works with me knows I hate the word" competitive, "said Mark Reuss, GM president of America North, by unveiling the car Sunday evening, the eve of the Auto Show in Detroit. "We will win with this car again. ... For the first time, we have something that nobody else has. "

Smaller than the Cadillac CTS sedan, the ATS was developed in the GM Warren Tech Center. It has a curb weight below 3400 pounds - lighter than the Audi A4, Infiniti G25, Mercedes C250 and Lexus IS 250 - and a near-perfect 51/49 front / weight distribution in the back.

Short overhangs and wide track give the ATS a position firmly planted, while his head and vertical taillights are compatible with the rest of the Cadillac. However, the exterior styling of the car is more universally appealing than the angular CTS, Reuss told the Free Press in advance of the beginning ATS.

"This is very short, the American luxury car performance, period. As opposed to an American copy of a German luxury performance sedan, "said Reuss." We have copied anyone. "

Power comes from three engine choices: a 200 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 270 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and 318 hp 3.5-liters V6. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive are available. This is the most fuel efficient will get over 30 mpg on the highway.

On a racetrack, the ATS can perform in seconds’ engines more powerful competitors, said Reuss, who was driving the car on the Nürburgring in Germany in October. In the meantime, the car was in good shape "was like a knife sharpening very well," said Reuss.

"The vehicle dynamics are so good and so predictable. You can drive this car more difficult as you can on board part of the competition from other means that you can get more speed to come in and out of turn" he said. "When you enter your direction and you get a response from the car, it will be more direct and intuitive than the cars in this class."

GM plans to price the ATS "competition," said Reuss. BMW new 3 series sedan, which debuted today at the North American International Auto Show, will start at $ 35 795, including costs destination.

Does this mean GM has increased the price of the CTS?

"This or the next?" Reuss says modestly.

The ATS is facing a challenge in the compact luxury segment. For example, BMW sold 93,000 of its outgoing 3 Series last year in the United States - more than 23,000 U.S. sales of the entire car Cadillac combined, according to Auto data.

On Sunday, Reuss said he did not know if ATS could never exceed the 3 series. "What we can do is put a car there is better," he said.

GM plans to sell the ATS in the United States and China. The automaker has no plans to sell the car in Europe "immediately", said CEO Dan Akerson. Reuss said GM is waiting to see how the excitement of the car produced in Europe before it launches the car there. The ATS will be the option of a diesel version in Europe.

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