Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Hatchback

2009 Detroit Show: Kia Soul'ster Concept

By TheCarConnection TeamColin Mathews, January 11th, 2009

A wedgy, funky little Kia concept called the Soul'ster was unveiled today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The new concept is based on the new 2010 Kia Soul hatchback, which goes on sale later in the year, and which we'll be driving shortly for a full review. The concept is spun from the same mechanicals, but Kia says it's a breezy alternative to the closed-roof car from the nose back.

The Soul'ster strikes a balance between the open-air fun of a Jeep and the impracticality of, say, a Suzuki X90. The interior does keep four seats--but the top rolls away into the roll bars to let in all the sunshine drivers can handle.

Along with the Soul'ster,...

A wedgy, funky little Kia concept called the Soul'ster was unveiled today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The new concept is based on the new 2010 Kia Soul hatchback, which goes on sale later in the year, and which we'll be driving shortly for a full review. The concept is spun from the same mechanicals, but Kia says it's a breezy alternative to the closed-roof car from the nose back. The Soul'ster strikes a balance between the open-air fun of a Jeep and the impracticality of, say, a Suzuki X90. The interior does keep four seats--but the top rolls away into the roll bars to let in all the sunshine drivers can handle. Along with the Soul'ster,... Read More

Tags: North America, Marketing, Industry, New Products, Styling, Detroit Auto Show

Posted in: 2009, Kia, Hatchback, Concept Cars, Soul

2010 Toyota Prius: Mississippi Plant on Hold

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, December 15th, 2008

Toyota is putting its new Mississippi manufacturing plant on indefinite hold, as it preps to introduce the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid that was to be built there. The Wall Street Journal says the decision--which had been rumored for months--will help the automaker get its North American production in line with current demand. Toyota just opened a new factory in Canada to build the 2009 Toyota RAV4, and it recently juggled production of the Tundra pickup to account for slackening demand. Prius sales have remained stable, even though gas prices have fallen dramatically since $4 peaks this summer. Toyota sales in general, though, have dropped... Toyota is putting its new Mississippi manufacturing plant on indefinite hold, as it preps to introduce the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid that was to be built there. The Wall Street Journal says the decision--which had been rumored for months--will help the automaker get its North American production in line with current demand. Toyota just opened a new factory in Canada to build the 2009 Toyota RAV4, and it recently juggled production of the Tundra pickup to account for slackening demand. Prius sales have remained stable, even though gas prices have fallen dramatically since $4 peaks this summer. Toyota sales in general, though, have dropped... Read More

Tags: Manufacturing

Posted in: 2010, Toyota, Hatchback, Hybrid, Prius

Mercedes BlueZero for Detroit Auto Show: Three Concepts

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, December 12th, 2008

Over at the Mercedes display in January in Detroit's Cobo Hall, the luxury brand will be displaying its new BlueZero concept cars, according to WorldCarFans. One concept relies exclusively on electricity for propulsion, and the other two add gasoline and hydrogen to the electric motivation, respectively. The BlueZero E-Cell is an all-electric vehicle that stores energy in lithium-ion batteries. Its electric motor provides plenty of torque, but range is limited to approximately 62 miles on a two-hour charge, limiting this vehicle's usefulness to that of a city commuter. For more range, step up to the BlueZero E-Cell Plus, an E-REV (Extended... Over at the Mercedes display in January in Detroit's Cobo Hall, the luxury brand will be displaying its new BlueZero concept cars, according to WorldCarFans. One concept relies exclusively on electricity for propulsion, and the other two add gasoline and hydrogen to the electric motivation, respectively. The BlueZero E-Cell is an all-electric vehicle that stores energy in lithium-ion batteries. Its electric motor provides plenty of torque, but range is limited to approximately 62 miles on a two-hour charge, limiting this vehicle's usefulness to that of a city commuter. For more range, step up to the BlueZero E-Cell Plus, an E-REV (Extended... Read More

Tags: Europe, North America, Marketing, Industry, Electric Cars, New Products, Detroit Auto Show

Posted in: 2009, Mercedes Benz, Crossover, Hatchback, Hybrid, Luxury, Concept Cars, Green