Suzuki says its new sports sedan will bow at an auto show in 2009--but it won't be the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

As Porsche has already confirmed, Suzuki will pass on attending the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. In doing so, Suzuki's abandoning Cobo Hall for more spacious digs at competing auto shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. No reasons were given for the move, only the statement that Suzuki "will not attend" the Detroit show next January.

While it's skipping winter in Motown, Suzuki is planning a raft of appearances at locally important and international auto shows next year. At one of them, the Japanese automaker will parade a new sports sedan that's been shown in concept form as the Kizashi and Kizashi 2. Shown here at the Tokyo show last year, the Suzuki Kizashi 2 was billed as "an emotionally appealing shape that reflects a dual focus on status and vitality in a way that generates excitement about its performance and heightens the pleasure of ownership."

Details are few on the production version of the sedan--including at which auto show it might first appear. However, the concept Kizashi 2 was powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, a powertrain expected to appear in the real Suzuki sedan when it goes on sale. A hybrid version is said to be in the works as well.

Stay tuned for more from Suzuki and for more on the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.

Magna International Inc. has nailed down a contract to build a vehicle for Great Britain's ultra-prestigious Aston Martin Rapide sedan.

Magna Steyr, Magna's vehicle-building subsidiary, will build the four-door Rapide at its manufacturing center in Graz, Austria, beginning in late 2009. The goal is to build about 2,000 cars annually, Aston Martin said.

"We are pleased that we could win a completely new customer and a new brand for our complete vehicle assembly business," said Magna spokeswoman Tracy Fuerst.

Aston Martin first showed the Rapide as a concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show back in January, 2006.

In the spring of 2007, Ford sold Aston Martin for $925 million to an investment group that included auto racing magnate David Richard, Aston Martin enthusiast John Sinder and two Kuwaiti investment firms, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment. Last May, the group said it would go ahead with the plans for the Rapide.

The decision to ask Magna Steyr to build the Rapide reflected the fact that Aston Martin's factory in Gaydon is at capacity building current models, including the Vantage, DB9 and new DBS, officials from the British carmaker said.

"The company has grown substantially since the Gaydon headquarters and production facility was opened in 2003, turning the company into one of the U.K. motor industry's top success stories," Aston Martin said in a statement.

Over the years, Magna Steyr has built vehicles for General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and BMW at its complex in Graz.

Nevertheless, the decision to build the Rapide in the heart of Europe represents something of cultural shift for ultra-British and cachet-laden Aston Martin, which is widely known for building the favorite cars of British super spy James Bond.

Aston Martin's statement was careful to note that the Rapide represents an expansion of the Aston Martin line and nothing is being dropped or cut at Gaydon, which is now building about 8,000 cars annually.

"The continuing growth and success of the company is based upon Gaydon as the focal point and heart of the business, with the design and engineering of all Aston Martin products continuing to be carried out there," the company said in the statement, announcing the deal with Magna Steyr.

However, the partnership with Magna could facilitate Aston Martin's expansion into the wealthy markets in Russia and Central Asia. Magna is now owned in part by Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin.

As part of the deal, Magna has agreed to establish a dedicated Aston Martin production operation with the Graz complex. The design of the Rapide plant in Graz will be based upon Aston Martin's production plant in Gaydon and the Aston Martin production plant in Cologne.--Joe Szczesny

It's a Fiesta! We liked the Verve name, but give Ford credit for warming up to the caliente crowd. Now if only they'd suck up my cultural clique--how about the "Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkey?"

While we're going over Anglicized versions of foreign words that became car names, Audi's Avant actually came after the sedan in Europe. But it's arriving simultaneously with the four-door later this year in the U.S.? Is nothing etymologically sacred?

Given Alfa's spotty history on broken promises, we're unwilling to judge whether the 8C Spider is actually bringing sexy back, or if it's just a tease. Can someone call JT and get a ruling?

GM's plans for big rear-drivers are proceeding, even though CAFE's already claimed some smaller RWD cars in the master plan. So what's the future of the new big Cadillac and Buick? One thing's for sure -- they won't have much competition.

Detroit show 2009: Camaro, Prius, and Mustang? Just one of those would be better than all five Chinese automakers in Detroit this year. We haven't seen body gaps like that since...um...try to be polite...um...TMZ.com.

Monday: Cargirl says ethanol bad for the planet. Friday: Scientists agree. Golf claps only, please.

It's a good day to buy--not to be confused with a good day to die.

The Feds are set to make rearview obstacle detectors and blind-spot detectors standard. We're still waiting for the 10,000-volt shock that hits drivers who text in the left lane. (Everyone knows it's rude unless you're in the middle lane.)

New York wants ideas for the taxi of tomorrow. Pray it includes an air freshener.

And finally, British guys seem to remember their first car more than their first date, which only underscores the whole British/gay conundrum.

Ready or not, the dates for the 2009 Detroit auto show are on the books.

Show organizers say the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens its doors from Jan. 11 - 25, 2009 at Detroit's Cobo Center. The city's long-bubbling plans to expand Cobo have apparently been put on hold, so we expect roughly the same number of world debuts (44) as the 2008 Detroit show.

As to world debuts? It's anyone's guess at this point, but if you haven't seen a Chevrolet Camaro by the end of the New York auto show, it's possible GM could wait until Detroit for a debut. We also expect a revamped 2010 Ford Mustang to make itself known, and possibly a production version of the new Taurus that Alan Mulally's been promising as well. And if you're really a gambler, you might predict a new Toyota Prius will be on display -- but you'll have to stay tuned for more.

For the specific crowds that attend, the dates break down as follows:

*Press Preview will be held Sunday, Jan. 11 through Tuesday, Jan. 13.
*Industry Preview will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14 and Thursday, Jan. 15.
*The annual black-tie Charity Preview gala will be held Friday evening, Jan. 16.
*Public Days will be held Saturday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 25.

Organizers say the 2008 NAIAS saw more than 700,000 attendees file through Cobo Hall, along with 6,000 international media from nearly 60 countries and 37,000 industry insiders, not to mention celebrities like Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock, and Toby Keith. In addition, $6 million was raised for children’s charities at the annual black-tie Charity Preview.

Toyota Motor Corp. is studying whether there is room for a small truck that would fit underneath the existing Tacoma pickup truck. And in doing so, it’s putting the spotlight on a debate now raging among the industry's designers and product planners.

Don Esmond, Toyota senior vice president, confirmed for TheCarConnection.com that the Japanese automaker is evaluating whether there is room for a smaller truck in its model line.

"We are looking at it," he said.

The new "A-BAT" concept truck displayed at both the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and at the Chicago Auto Show could serve as the model for a new smaller truck, Esmond said.

"It's a pure concept vehicle," said Esmond, adding the Toyota will be looking carefully at the consumer reaction to the vehicle throughout the auto show season. Esmond also noted Toyota's FJ Cruiser started out as a pure concept vehicle and the favorable reaction of auto show crowds helped Toyota decide to put the vehicle into production.

"I think everyone is trying to come out with products the customer doesn't know they want yet," Esmond said.

Toyota isn't the only manufacturer looking at small pickup trucks. Jim Gillette, an analyst with CSM Worldwide in Northville, Mich., noted one of the overriding trends in the car business today is that vehicle segments are getting smaller and smaller. Thus, companies ranging from Suzuki to General Motors have been looking at the small truck segment as a possible new segment or sub-segment.

"Everybody is looking for white space," said an executive with one Japanese automaker who asked not to be identified. In that kind of an environment, the small pickup truck is bound to get attention, the executive said. "I think it would have to be pretty funky-looking to work," he said.

In addition, one reason trucks like the Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier have grown in and succeeded with customers over they years is that they are quite capable for hauling snowmobiles and motorcycles, he added. "The number of people who tow in this segment is huge," he added. Giving up towing capacity could quickly limit sales.

“Everybody asks, 'Why don't you build a simple stripped-down pickup truck like they used to make.' But I'm not sure anybody would buy it," said one GM official, acknowledging there have been discussion about the feasibility of GM bringing small pickup trucks back.

Nevertheless GM has designated its design center at GM do Brazil as a center of expertise for small trucks in its new global product development system, raising the possibility GM also is moving ahead with a truck that would fit underneath the Colorado and Canyon, which company officials insist aren't going to disappear any time soon.

Ford has postponed the death of the Ranger for a least a year and Jim Farley, the company's new group executive for marketing and communication, seems determined to try a rebuild Ranger's sales even though the truck's basic design dates back more than two decades.

Meanwhile, the A-BAT is an example of why other automakers fear Toyota.

The Toyota concept hybrid truck, which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions, comes with a distinctive un-truck-like profile that has already reminded a lot of observers of Chevrolet's old El Caminos from the 1970s.

The A-BAT isn't exactly an old-school-style truck. It is built on unibody like a car for improved handling and a smoother ride. It also features wireless Internet, a portable battery pack stowed in the center console and a solar panels on top of instrument panel which captures sunlight and converts it to energy used to charge up the navigation system.

The four-passenger A-BAT also features a relatively short, four-foot bed and a bed extender to handle the ubiquitous six-foot long sheet of plywood beyond the tailgate as well as a translucent roof panel, which slides open to allow for tall cargo inside the cab.-- Joseph Szczesny

You missed GM's Denali XT concept from Chicago? Shame on you -- here's your chance to make up for it