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Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray comes with 8-inch customizable instrument cluster
One of the prettiest sights at this year's North American International Auto Show was the Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray, a bright red beauty that's just as attractive inside thanks to a brand new reconfigurable instrument cluster. According to Autoblog, behind the steering wheel is an eight-inch high resolution screen with one of three different layouts: sport, touring and race. Sport mode places the tachometer in the center, touring slips it to the side to make room for info like navigation directions and race displays the tach in a bold and colorful ascending bar graph. The modes can be configured to show all kinds of details, from G-force numbers to lap times. Of course, we've seen digital displays of this sort before, but Chevy's version is quite the visual treat all the same. If you're dying to get a look at the cluster for yourself, head over to the source for the video.
Cadillac ELR unveiled: A Volt for the luxury set (updated with pictures)
It's taken a good, long while for the Cadillac Converj concept to break cover as a production machine, but at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the car has finally shrugged off its camouflage. You can think of this as the Chevy Volt's better-mannered big-brother if you like, as this machine relies on the same Extended Range Electric Vehicle platform as its predecessor. That is, it has the same basic hybrid structure as the Volt that allows it to run as a pure EV for up to 35 miles before switching over to a more traditional parallel hybrid mode, burning gasoline for a maximum range of over 300 miles. But, that's not to say this is a Volt that's just made a trip to the tailor for a better-fitting suit -- there's a bit more to it than that. Join us after the break for the details.
Acura unveils updated NSX concept, has one V6 and three electric motors (eyes-on)
Acura chose last year's NAIAS to unveil the reborn NSX, heir to an epic throne of motorsports lineage. But, it was lacking a few things -- most notably an interior. This year, Honda's superlative brand is showing off a new generation of concept for the car that is still, sadly, at least two years away from production. As before it's powered by the company's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, a system that's spun most forcefully by a mid-mounted V6, helped by three electric motors. One is mounted to the V6 to provide a hybrid setup, the other two slung between the front wheels to give those tires up front little spin when needed. The new interior is a typically focused experience, full of leather and carbon fiber. It looks perfectly ready for production, but we're told it's just one potential design from a few they're toying with. No word on how much Acura's return to the supercar world might cost when it goes into production, but we're just glad to see this on a definite path to availability.
Tesla to open 25 new stores in 2013, first Chinese location this spring
Getting yourself into a new Tesla is going to get a little easier in 2013. The company opened 13 stores in 2012, but this year has designs to double that. On the show floor of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, George Blankenship, VP of sales, confirmed a plan that will see 25 new retail locations opening throughout 2013, with half of those in the US and the other half abroad. This includes the company's first location in China, which is due to open its doors in the spring. The company also re-committed to covering the US with Supercharger charging stations. Only eight are operational now, most on the west coast, but the company plans to cover both coasts in the coming years and then, eventually, connect the two so that you can drive from Boston to LA without burning a drop of fuel -- and without spending a dime, since use of the chargers will be free for Tesla owners. No firm details on when the company's $30k entry-level machine will be launching, but we were at least told it's still at least a few years out
VIA Motors introduces V-TRUX range of extended-range electric trucks, vans and SUVs
If you're launching a line of extended-range electric vehicles, ala the Chevy Volt, it's hard to imagine a better person to help you with the launch than Bob Lutz, the driving force behind that very car. Now he's working with VIA Motors, which today introduced a line of electric vehicles of a rather different scale. The V-TRUX line of big boy toys includes modified GMC trucks, SUVs and vans, customized to include a Volt-like powertrain that enables up to 40 miles of electricity-only driving before switching over to the onboard 4.8 liter V8. More details after the break.
Hyundai unveils HCD-14 Genesis concept: suicide doors, gesture and eye controls
At NAIAS 2013 Hyundai has given an indication of where its "premium vehicles" are headed with its HCD-14 Genesis concept. Sporting a sharp-edged style and suicide doors, the sedan gets even better inside, with a control layout that foregoes the traditional knobs and buttons. According to Hyundai (it wasn't demonstrated) it includes eye tracking and 3D hand gesture recognition accurate enough to control navigation, infotainment, audio, HVAC, and one's phone. The RWD vehicle packs a 5.0-liter Hyundai Tau V8 engine under the hood with optical recognition that verifies its driver before starting. Hyundai stated that there would be two vehicles on the way following this concept's design, with the second including even more of its advanced tech. Check out the full list in the press release after the break, as well as a good look at the car in our gallery.
VL Destino is a 639hp, supercharged, V8-powered Fisker Karma (eyes-on)
People have gushed about the handling of the Fisker Karma, it's low, long and wide chassis said to provide amazing handling. But, the powertrain has certainly caused some... problems. So, VL Automotive (a small auto manufacturer backed by Bob Lutz, among others) did what felt right: kept that luscious body and chassis and ripped out the guts. In exchange for the series hybrid get-up that drives the Karma, the Destino received a supercharged V8 -- more specifically, the LS9 that powers the Corvette ZR1. Under the see-through hood of the 'Vette that motor puts down 639hp, a figure that's said to be maintained here, but with the four-door practicality the Chevrolet lacks. Pricing is said to be around $180,000 for the bespoke four-door supercar (a huge premium over the $102,000 Karma), but its designers hope that this could be the fastest four-door sedan on the planet when it goes on sale later this year. Just don't expect to set any records on the fuel efficiency scoreboard.
Tesla Model X SUV hands-on (video)
We've seen the Model X in the flesh before, at its showy unveiling last February at which Tesla CEO Elon Musk turned up to show off the "Falcon Wing" rear doors and the rather... compact seating arrangement that makes room for three full rows of short-legged human beings. Here in Detroit at NAIAS the 2014 model year car is making another appearance, doors open and interior fully-functional. We couldn't resist hopping in there to check out the 17-inch multi-function touch panel. Largely the same as that in the Model S, the panel lets you manage climate control, navigation and, yes, do a little web surfing too. It's all demonstrated in the video after the break.
VW unveils CrossBlue plug-in SUV with iPad mini headrests and 85MPGe efficiency (eyes-on)
America is the land of the SUV and so it's no surprise that Volkswagen came here to launch its CrossBlue plug-in concept. The SUV features a front-mounted diesel engine paired with an electric motor in a traditional hybrid configuration, plus a second, more powerful electric motor in the rear to drive those wheels in the back. This configuration gives it all wheel drive and also allows the ECU to either send power to or retrieve power from (in the form of regeneration) either motor to recharge the on-board battery pack -- which can also be juiced up by plugging into the wall. The system is said to deliver an estimated 85MPGe efficiency, which is pretty amazing for an SUV, and 14 miles of pure electric driving should you wish. As it's a concept, it's anybody's guess just how it'll actually perform when it goes into production, but we couldn't help but notice something very much available today in the back seats: iPad minis. Yes, one was embedded in each of the headrests, rear-facing for maximum efficiency in keeping the kids busy during a long cruise. Again, this is just a concept, so no guarantees we'll ever see this on the road, but a VW rep commented that they hope to see this in production in a year or two.
