The history of Detroit's North American International Auto Show started back in 1907 when the Detroit car dealers first produced it. According to the Detroit News, however, it was started by bicycle-store owner, William E. Metzger, after he attended an auto exhibit in Europe and became Detroit’s first auto dealer. Metzger's 1899 show, sponsored by the Tri-State Sportsman's and Automobile Association, exhibited automobiles along side sporting goods. By 1902, automobiles were big enough that Tri-State held a show exclusively devoted to them. 1907 marked the first year in which the Detroit auto dealers, now numbering 16, held their own show. In 1909, they created the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which has produced the show ever since. Surprisingly, auto manufacturers didn’t get in on the act until 1957.
During its long history, the Detroit Auto Show has been held in some very interesting locations, including beer gardens, dance halls, lumber yards and the Michigan State Fairgrounds. It moved to Cobo Center in 1961, however, and has been there ever since.
In a bid to compete with auto shows in New York, Chicago and New York, Detroit expanded its auto show and became the North American International Auto Show in the late 1980s. Part of the expansion involved getting certification from the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobile (OICA) and landing enough world debuts to insure the attendance of the foreign press. While Detroit still claims the most world debuts, those other auto shows recently received certification from OICA.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car
Also known as the Fireball, the Y-Job was the industry’s first concept car. It was built upon a standard Buick chassis, but had a long, low, streamlined custom body, hand-built by Earl’s craftsmen. The Y-Job featured numerous innovations, including hidden headlamps, power windows and convertible roof, and air-cooled, airplane-type brakes. Not content merely to exhibit it, Earl actually used the Y-Job as his personal car for years.
Designer Harley J Earl was the catalyst for the creation of this unique automobile. Colorful, charismatic and opinionated, Earl left his mark on generations of GM products. The Y-Job was a signpost that pointed to design trends that would endure for decades. Why the Y-Job name? In Earl's lexicon, every new project was a job. The letter "Y" went one step beyond the prosaic X-for-experimental designation and paid homage to the prototype fighter planes that were identified with the prefix "Y" by aircraft manufacturers.
The Y-Job was a collaborative effort within GM Design. Earl supplied the inspiration and a critical eye, George Snyder put the lines on paper and Buick Chief Engineer Charlie Chayne supervised the modifications to the production Buick Century chassis that became the foundation of GM's groundbreaking concept car.
They created a vision that inspired a new genre of automotive art: the Dream Car. With a 126-inch wheelbase and a body that extended more than 17 feet long, the two-seat convertible was an exuberant expanse of streamlined sheetmetal. Sporty yet elegant, the Y-job introduced innovative features such as concealed headlamps, electrically operated windows, flush door handles and a power-operated convertible top that was fully concealed by a steel boot when retracted.
Designer Harley J Earl was the catalyst for the creation of this unique automobile. Colorful, charismatic and opinionated, Earl left his mark on generations of GM products. The Y-Job was a signpost that pointed to design trends that would endure for decades. Why the Y-Job name? In Earl's lexicon, every new project was a job. The letter "Y" went one step beyond the prosaic X-for-experimental designation and paid homage to the prototype fighter planes that were identified with the prefix "Y" by aircraft manufacturers.
The Y-Job was a collaborative effort within GM Design. Earl supplied the inspiration and a critical eye, George Snyder put the lines on paper and Buick Chief Engineer Charlie Chayne supervised the modifications to the production Buick Century chassis that became the foundation of GM's groundbreaking concept car.
They created a vision that inspired a new genre of automotive art: the Dream Car. With a 126-inch wheelbase and a body that extended more than 17 feet long, the two-seat convertible was an exuberant expanse of streamlined sheetmetal. Sporty yet elegant, the Y-job introduced innovative features such as concealed headlamps, electrically operated windows, flush door handles and a power-operated convertible top that was fully concealed by a steel boot when retracted.
1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car
1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car, also known as the Fireball, was the industry’s first concept car. It was built upon a standard Buick chassis, but had a long, low, streamlined custom body, hand-built by Earl’s craftsmen. The Y-Job featured numerous innovations, including hidden headlamps, power windows and convertible roof, and air-cooled, airplane-type brakes. Not content merely to exhibit it, Earl actually used the Y-Job as his personal car for years.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
BMW Concept X1 Arrives
According to Autoblog After last night's impromptu unveiling of the BMW Concept X1 set off Dan's gag reflex, the Munich-based automaker has released the first batch of official info and images of its premium compact CUV. Most of us here at Autoblog echo Dan's sentiment that the Concept X1 is an ugly duckling, with very odd proportions for such a small CUV. The front end wears the new swollen nose first seen on the new 7 Series, while squared off wheel surrounds and lots of pinched surfacing reminds us of what we didn't like about the Bangle-era of BMW design.
They also think BMW's X line of SUVs and CUVs is getting a little crowded with the X5 and X3 recently joined by the X6 and soon a production version of the X1. We have to see them side by side, but the Concept X1 and current X3 look too close for comfort in size and purpose. Check out the official press release from BMW after the jump where the brand tries to explain the design details of the Concept X1, as well as the new, high-res gallery below and a new video after the jump. We'll have live shots of the Concept X1 from the floor of the Paris Motor Show tomorrow, and we hope more details on the concept's mechanicals.
They also think BMW's X line of SUVs and CUVs is getting a little crowded with the X5 and X3 recently joined by the X6 and soon a production version of the X1. We have to see them side by side, but the Concept X1 and current X3 look too close for comfort in size and purpose. Check out the official press release from BMW after the jump where the brand tries to explain the design details of the Concept X1, as well as the new, high-res gallery below and a new video after the jump. We'll have live shots of the Concept X1 from the floor of the Paris Motor Show tomorrow, and we hope more details on the concept's mechanicals.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Car Insurance
Today you can find our best car insurance quote to suit your needs from a panel of leading world providers. There are various car insurance schemes. Using the online quote system you can check many providers to pick up the best and at the same time the cheapest car insurance.
Whether you are a first time driver, a woman driver or a young student driver aged between 18 - 21 years old and have held your licence for more than 1 year you could get up good discount on your motor insurance providing with competitive insurance solutions for car insurance to give you the cover you need.
Now thousands of consumers are forsaking their local insurance agent and seeking to buy car insurance online. It’s easy so see why — the time spent shopping online can be a fraction of the time spent talking on the phone with multiple agents. But there are several ways to buy car insurance online, and a few factors to keep in mind with each. Here is a three different methods to buy car insurance online.
1. You can solicit a quote from one specific company. If you have already chosen a particular insurance company (perhaps the one with which you’re already insured), you can submit an application online at that company’s homepage. All major insurance companies accept online applications.
This method allows you to submit the information when it’s convenient for you — perhaps in the evening when you have the time but your local insurance agency is closed. Then the insurance company will review your application and contact you with a quote. They may email the quote or have your local agent contact you. The downside is that you won’t have quotes from other insurance companies for comparison.
2. You can solicit a quote from an online insurer. An online insurer is an insurance company that does business only on the internet, such as Esurance. They have no local agents and they aren’t licensed to provide insurance in all states. However, if you live in one of the states in which they are licensed (they will let you know when you apply), the online insurer will provide an immediate quote to you by email. The benefit is the quick response time, but the drawback is that once again, you are only getting one quote. To get multiple quotes for comparison purposes, you would have to submit applications to multiple online insurers.
3. You can solicit multiple quotes from an online quote provider. An online quote provider, such as NetQuote, is a company who has relationships with dozens of the largest insurance companies. By submitting one application with an online quote provider, you can receive multiple quotes from a number of different insurers. Most online quote providers have relationships with all of the various kinds of insurance companies, so you are likely to receive quotes from local agents in your area, as well as large national insurance companies who do business in all fifty states. Depending on the state in which you live, you are also likely to receive instant emailed quotes from an online insurer such as Esurance. This method allows you to get multiple quotes for comparison purposes without having to submit multiple applications.
Whether you are a first time driver, a woman driver or a young student driver aged between 18 - 21 years old and have held your licence for more than 1 year you could get up good discount on your motor insurance providing with competitive insurance solutions for car insurance to give you the cover you need.
Now thousands of consumers are forsaking their local insurance agent and seeking to buy car insurance online. It’s easy so see why — the time spent shopping online can be a fraction of the time spent talking on the phone with multiple agents. But there are several ways to buy car insurance online, and a few factors to keep in mind with each. Here is a three different methods to buy car insurance online.
1. You can solicit a quote from one specific company. If you have already chosen a particular insurance company (perhaps the one with which you’re already insured), you can submit an application online at that company’s homepage. All major insurance companies accept online applications.
This method allows you to submit the information when it’s convenient for you — perhaps in the evening when you have the time but your local insurance agency is closed. Then the insurance company will review your application and contact you with a quote. They may email the quote or have your local agent contact you. The downside is that you won’t have quotes from other insurance companies for comparison.
2. You can solicit a quote from an online insurer. An online insurer is an insurance company that does business only on the internet, such as Esurance. They have no local agents and they aren’t licensed to provide insurance in all states. However, if you live in one of the states in which they are licensed (they will let you know when you apply), the online insurer will provide an immediate quote to you by email. The benefit is the quick response time, but the drawback is that once again, you are only getting one quote. To get multiple quotes for comparison purposes, you would have to submit applications to multiple online insurers.
3. You can solicit multiple quotes from an online quote provider. An online quote provider, such as NetQuote, is a company who has relationships with dozens of the largest insurance companies. By submitting one application with an online quote provider, you can receive multiple quotes from a number of different insurers. Most online quote providers have relationships with all of the various kinds of insurance companies, so you are likely to receive quotes from local agents in your area, as well as large national insurance companies who do business in all fifty states. Depending on the state in which you live, you are also likely to receive instant emailed quotes from an online insurer such as Esurance. This method allows you to get multiple quotes for comparison purposes without having to submit multiple applications.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Dacia 2009
Dacia took the wraps off Sandero Stepway at simultaneous events at the Barcelona Motor Show and at the L'Atelier Renault showroom in Paris. The adventurer looks of this variant of Sandero seeks to build on the success enjoyed by Dacia's compact yet spacious hatchback, sales of which have reached 60,000 units across Europe and in the Maghreb region since its launch in July 2008.
Dacia Sandero Stepway's athletic build is expected to notably appeal to younger buyers looking for an affordable vehicle with bags of personality. Thanks to its raised ground clearance, satin-finish chrome front and rear skid-plates and sills, chrome longitudinal roofbars and chrome exhaust tailpipe, Dacia Sandero Stepway is more than ready to hit the adventure trail. Three metallic body colours are available as standard: Platine Grey, Comète Grey and Feu Red.
It goes without saying that Dacia Sandero Stepway features the same strengths that have helped forged the success of its sibling, Sandero, namely unrivalled cabin space for its price (it comfortably seats five tall adults, plus a 320dm3 VDA boot), as well as the model's widelyacclaimed impeccable reliability.Depending on market, Dacia Sandero Stepway will be available with either 1.6 90hp petrol or dCi 70 diesel power. It is manufactured at the brand's ISO 14001-certified plant in Pitesti, Romania. More than five per cent of the plastics it contains are sourced from recycling and the car is 95 per cent end-of-life recoverable. This, combined with Dacia Sandero Stepway dCi 70's CO2 emissions rating of just 140g/km make it eligible for the Dacia eco² signature. The latest addition to the Dacia line-up boasts an unbeatable equipment and performance package for its price and will be available for sale in the majority of its European markets from September 2009. Order books are due to open in July 2009. Like all Dacia models in Europe, Dacia Sandero Stepway will come with a three-year or 100,000km warranty.
Dacia Sandero Stepway is based on the Ambiance version (central locking, power steering, etc.) and, in addition to its specific styling details, features a long list of comfort-related equipment, including a 60/40- split folding rear benchseat and foglamps for enhanced visibility at night-time and in fog. Drivers will particularly appreciate the slightly raised driving position, while the pleasure felt at the wheel of Dacia Sandero Stepway is further enhanced by the performance of the 1.6 MPI 90hp petrol and dCi 70hp diesel engines (depending on market), two powerplants which have already shown their worth under the bonnet of other Dacia models. Thrifty combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.6 and 5.3 litres/100km respectively only adds to the appeal of the 1.6 MPI and dCi 70 versions of Dacia Sandero Stepway. Last but not least, Dacia Sandero Stepway dCi 70 emits just 140g of CO2/km, making it eligible the Dacia eco² signature.
Dacia Sandero Stepway's athletic build is expected to notably appeal to younger buyers looking for an affordable vehicle with bags of personality. Thanks to its raised ground clearance, satin-finish chrome front and rear skid-plates and sills, chrome longitudinal roofbars and chrome exhaust tailpipe, Dacia Sandero Stepway is more than ready to hit the adventure trail. Three metallic body colours are available as standard: Platine Grey, Comète Grey and Feu Red.
It goes without saying that Dacia Sandero Stepway features the same strengths that have helped forged the success of its sibling, Sandero, namely unrivalled cabin space for its price (it comfortably seats five tall adults, plus a 320dm3 VDA boot), as well as the model's widelyacclaimed impeccable reliability.Depending on market, Dacia Sandero Stepway will be available with either 1.6 90hp petrol or dCi 70 diesel power. It is manufactured at the brand's ISO 14001-certified plant in Pitesti, Romania. More than five per cent of the plastics it contains are sourced from recycling and the car is 95 per cent end-of-life recoverable. This, combined with Dacia Sandero Stepway dCi 70's CO2 emissions rating of just 140g/km make it eligible for the Dacia eco² signature. The latest addition to the Dacia line-up boasts an unbeatable equipment and performance package for its price and will be available for sale in the majority of its European markets from September 2009. Order books are due to open in July 2009. Like all Dacia models in Europe, Dacia Sandero Stepway will come with a three-year or 100,000km warranty.
Dacia Sandero Stepway is based on the Ambiance version (central locking, power steering, etc.) and, in addition to its specific styling details, features a long list of comfort-related equipment, including a 60/40- split folding rear benchseat and foglamps for enhanced visibility at night-time and in fog. Drivers will particularly appreciate the slightly raised driving position, while the pleasure felt at the wheel of Dacia Sandero Stepway is further enhanced by the performance of the 1.6 MPI 90hp petrol and dCi 70hp diesel engines (depending on market), two powerplants which have already shown their worth under the bonnet of other Dacia models. Thrifty combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.6 and 5.3 litres/100km respectively only adds to the appeal of the 1.6 MPI and dCi 70 versions of Dacia Sandero Stepway. Last but not least, Dacia Sandero Stepway dCi 70 emits just 140g of CO2/km, making it eligible the Dacia eco² signature.
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