NAIAS

Electric Car Manufacturer Tesla Changes its Tactics?

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By all accounts, Tesla is a completely different type of auto manufacturer. It defies convention and throws it all in the face of the traditional automakers. They are, without a doubt, the darling of the tech crowd … and for good reason. The Tesla Model S is a truly spectacular car. The company has won over legions of fans and tens of thousands of owners in a short time, all the while avoiding conventional advertising. It appears that avoidance has lessened.

I logged into my Google account this morning to review the advertising that is targeted for MPGomatic.com. I do this on a regular basis to block shoddy advertisers (of which there are many). I was shocked – no, make that pleasantly surprised – to see a real live advertisement from Tesla Motors.

The wording was simple.

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You Want a Real EcoBoost? Lets Put it in Perspective …

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I spent the better part of three days at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this past week. While I’ve been to NAIAS a number of times over the years, this was the first time I flew home knowing that I need to start doing things differently, ASAP. Although the price of gasoline may have plummeted, there’s still a mission (make that multiple missions) that must be accomplished. Gas will not stay this cheap forever.

Ford kindly flew me in with a crowd of “Digital Influencers” and I lived happily in the big blue snowglobe with my new comrades. Our agenda was non-stop, starting with a Sunday night visit to the historic Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, where the Model T was designed and built.

1908 Ford Model T at the Piquette Avenue Plant

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2015 Chrysler 200 Rated at 36 MPG Highway

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While it might have been hard to image a Chrysler that could hit the 36 mile per gallon (MPG) mark just a few years back, the engineers have nailed the number with the 2015 Chrysler 200. But fuel efficiency is just the starting point for the completely redesigned model. The 2015 200 is new from the ground up, packed with technology, and brilliantly executed. It’s time to leave your impressions of the outgoing model (and the Sebring on which it was based) behind.

The 2015 puts Chrysler into the thick of the hotly contested mid-size sedan market.

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Navigate NAIAS? There’s an App for That.

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With auto manufacturer and supplier exhibits spread throughout Detroit’s cavernous Cobo Hall, finding the most efficient route through the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) can be a daunting task. If you’ve ever wished you had an app on your smartphone to provide navigation within the winding aisles of a gigantic car show, your prayers have been answered.

Enter ZF AutoShowMe!

The ZF AutoShowMe App runs on iOS and Android devices. ZF is providing the app free of charge via Google Play and the iPhone App Store. Download ZF AutoShowMe for NAIAS 2014 and you’ll chart a course to auto show nirvana.

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2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

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The 2010 Detroit Auto Show saw more hybrids and a marked increase in hoopla for the electrification of the automobile. A dedicated “Electric Avenue” on the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) floor joined an electric test track in the cellar of Cobo Hall, which continued a tradition started in 2009. (Truth be told, I so busy on the show floor, that I never found my way to the basement.)

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