If two is company and three’s a crowd, what are 600?

Although GM cut back on much of the glitz usually contained in its displays for the Detroit Auto Show, it more than made up for this shortcoming by showing up at this year’s press conference with 600 company employees, more than a dozen current, future and concept vehicles as well as various company and government dignitaries that included GM Chairman Rick Wagoner, Vice Chairman Robert Lutz and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.

So it was in front of this group as well as about 5,000 journalists from around the world that GM introduced its two latest concept vehicles as well as one that was first introduced in Paris last year.

Cadillac Converj

Without a doubt the most stunning concept at this year’s NAIAS (we’re not alone in thinking this, it received one of only two EyesOn Design concept awards given out at this year’s show), the Cadillac Converj is not just a sexy coupe. Underneath its glamorous exterior, the Converj is an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) that shares the same Voltec technology as its more Plebian counterpart, the Chevrolet Volt.

Although equipped with a gasoline engine as well as an electric motor, the fossil-fuel engine merely acts as a generator to recharge the vehicle’s batteries as the electric motor always furnishes the primary propulsion. In the words of the immortal bard Justin Timberlake, the Converj brings “Sexy Back” to Cadillac.

Chevrolet Spark

Inspired by the popular Beat concept vehicle that has toured auto shows for the past couple of years, the Spark concept is said to be a much closer to the look of the actual production vehicle that will be sold in global markets (read: Europe and Asia) in 2010 and planned for the U.S. in 2011.

While the style and color are certainly more imaginative than anything currently offered by Chevrolet in North America, the size and marketing demographics are almost exactly the same as those of the current Chevy Aveo. No word yet on whether the Spark will be sold alongside the Aveo or if it will replace it.

Chevrolet Orlando

Although introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October of last year, the Orlando made its North American debut in Detroit. Originally intended as an overseas model, last summer’s spike in fuel prices convinced GM that they needed this kind of a vehicle in the U.S.

Based on the same global platform as the upcoming Chevy Cruz, the 7-seat Orlando seats passengers in three rows of theater-style seating. In Europe, the Orlando is powered by a 2.0 liter common rail diesel engine that produces 150 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. According to GM, the Orlando will go on-sale over here in 2011.

Verve 4-Door Concept

Coming out party

Way back in January of this year, Ford introduced two small car concept vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicles, one a three-door hatchback and the other a more conventional 4-door sedan were both called Verve. According to Ford VP J. Mays, “Verve aims to ‘right’ North American buyers’ earlier small-car experiences by offering a product that changes customers’ views of small cars from ‘cheap’ to chic – and from affordable to desirable.”

Since that time, of course, the entire auto industry has been set on its ear. First, rising gas prices and then, the economic turmoil have combined for a one-two punch never before seen. But despite (and possibly because of) these circumstances, Ford has stuck to and even expanded its small car marketing plans.

The new Fiesta (the production name for the Verve) hatchback in both 3 and 5-door versions was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in early October. Today, the sedan had its coming out party in Guangzhou; a city located about 60 miles northwest of Hong Kong.

2009 Ford Fiesta Sedan

Why China?

This is a global economy and China is a critical market if a downsized Ford is to succeed in the 21st century. “Launching the all-new Fiesta sedan to the world in China signals the importance of China and the Asian region in Ford’s global strategy, ” said John Parker, executive vice president, Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Company. “This is a sophisticated small car. Design combines with advanced technology to deliver very high levels of refinement, safety and class-leading fuel efficiency. This new Fiesta proves Ford’s leadership in small car design and development.”

The importance of the Fiesta

Back in January, Car and Driver magazine voted the Verve one of the 10 most significant debuts at the auto show and the production version doesn’t disappoint, either. The Fiesta has everything that is lacking in Ford’s current small car lineup in North America – it is sleek, racy and filled with the promise of class-leading handling – everything the first generation Focus was and the current generation isn’t.

More importantly, the sedan is a given in this market from the get-go, considering Americans’ preferences for this body style over a hatchback (even though Ford has revised its plans and will build a hatch alongside the sedan).

The Bottom Line

While those Euro car buffs at LotPro.com are eagerly anticipating the Fiesta hatchback, chances are that it is this sedan version that will account for the lion’s share of Fiesta sales here in the states and for that reason, its importance can’t be overemphasized.

Variations on a Theme

Here at LotPro.com, we’ve been looking forward to the production version of the new Kia that will go on sale in the United States sometime next spring. Based on the original Soul concept car that was designed in California at the Kia Design Center, Kia’s newest vehicle is already being built at its Gwangju factory. In addition to the world premiere of the Soul, Mondial de l’Automobile will play host to the unveiling of seven distinctly different interpretations of the Kia Soul theme.

Much like Kia did for the concept car in Geneva with the Soul Searcher, Soul Diva and Soul Burner variations, the seven (count ‘em) versions of the Soul on display in Paris will give show goers a glimpse of how Kia’s newest model can be customized by owners to reflect their own personal tastes. In this respect, Kia hopes to attract young buyers using many of the same marketing and customizing techniques that Toyota used when launching its Scion brand.

In Europe, where it will go on sale shortly, the new Soul will have either a 1.6 liter gasoline engine or a 1.6 liter diesel variant. Both engines will come with a five-speed manual transmission, while an automatic transmission will be an option only on diesel-equipped models. Once it reaches our shores, however, U.S. buyers will have no choice – only a 142 horsepower 2.0 liter gasoline engine will be offered.

Green, green, it’s green they say

With apologies to the New Christy Minstrels, in addition to the premier of the Soul, Kia will also be displaying four very eco-friendly vehicles. Included in the mix are two gasoline-electric hybrid concepts, one based on the Soul and another derived from the Cee’d (available everywhere else, it seems, but in the U.S.). Kia will also be showing an electric fuel cell version of the Sportage, and a version of the Cee’d equipped with a stop-start system (that allows the engine to shut down for periods when the vehicle isn’t moving, such as at stoplights and when stopped in traffic).

Kia Cee’d Hybrid

Everyone with a money storage problem needs a 4-seat sports car

With the Paris Motor Show just around the corner, it’s time to weigh-in on the latest offering from Lamborghini. Unfortunately, the only thing (well, things, really) we have to go on are three pictures released by the manufacturer that show very little of what’s in store for show goers.

Rumors are flying around the internet even as this is being written. One camp seems to think the new model will be a high-zoot souped-up version of the current Murcielago LP640. Others (with whom we tend to agree) believe the images to be a sneak preview of a new Porsche Panamera/Aston Martin Rapide fighter.

In any case, we were hoping that Lamborghini was sending bits of the new vehicle as pieces of some type of electronic puzzle and if you put enough of them together in the right sequence, the entire vehicle would come together before your eyes.

Alas, it seems like this is not to be, since we only have three pieces of the puzzle and Paris is just over a week away. What we can discern from the photos is a lower rear valance composed of carbon fiber that surrounds what appears to be large twin dual hexagonal exhausts. Above the valance, the taillights echo the same 6-sided theme. The left front fender image tells us the tires will be Pirelli PZero’s, while a vent behind the wheel well has a chrome piece adorned with the colors of the Italian flag.

In any case, here are the pieces that we’ve collected so far:

The City of Lights

Paris is undoubtedly the most beautiful and romantic city to ever host an auto show. Somehow, the phrases “We’ll always have Frankfurt” or “We’ll always have Detroit” don’t have the same ring as the famous phrase that Bogart spoke in Casablanca.

This year, American manufacturers will unveil a number of key vehicles at the Mondial de l’Automobile. While many of them are intended only for the European market, a few of them are already scheduled for sale in the U.S., while a couple more may make their way over here if American tastes continue to shift to smaller cars.

Cadillac

2010 CTS Sport Wagon

Although premiered at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours, the Sport Wagon will make its European debut and move into the worldwide auto show circuit in Paris. Although it rides on the same wheelbase as the CTS Sedan, the wagon is slightly shorter (.28 inches) and offers 25.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Engine choices for the U.S. version remain unchanged, while a 2.9 liter 250 hp turbo-diesel is being developed for overseas markets.

Chevrolet

2011 Cruze

In previous articles we’ve mentioned the Orlando Crossover concept and the 2010 Chevrolet Volt, which will make their European debut in Paris. The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is, arguably, more important to GM than either of those vehicles. Designed by Daewoo and due to replace the Chevrolet/Daewoo Nubria/Lacetti in Europe, the Cruze is a brand new vehicle for North America. Although the Cruze will be available in Europe in the spring of 2009, production on this side of the pond will not begin until 2010, while GM re-tools its Lordstown, Ohio plant to build the new car.

Power for the Cruze will come from a new line of direct injection four-cylinder engines.

Ford

2010 Ka

As discussed in a previous article, Ford will unveil the new Ka. Although there are no current plans to market the car in the U.S., higher gas prices, and a successful launch of the Fiesta, might convince Ford managers that they need it here, as well.

2010 Mazda MX-5

Although slated for its U.S. debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show, Mazda’s face lifted MX-5 Miata will be on display first in Paris. The new roadster features new bumpers, headlights and front and rear fascias.

Mazda Kiyora Concept

Described as a lightweight, next generation, urban compact concept car, the Kiyora is a concept version of the 2011 Mazda1 A-segment vehicle. The Kiyora features Mazda’s next generation 4 cylinder direct-injection engine with the company’s Smart Idle Stop System.

Chevrolet Orlando Concept
The first vehicle is the Chevy Orlando Concept. The Orlando has nothing to do with the city in Florida, Tony Orlando or even Orlando Bloom, for that matter. What it really is is an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) based on the upcoming Chevy Cruze. The Cruze, you’ll remember, is a vehicle built on the same platform as the next generation Daewoo Lacetti. In the Chevy hierarchy, it is slotted above the current Chevrolet Cobalt and will be built at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant beginning in June of 2010. Current plans are for the Cobalt and the Cruze to be sold alongside each other, although the Cobalt could eventually be phased out.

But I digress. The Orlando Concept seats seven in three rows of seats and is powered by GM’s 2.0 liter, 150 horsepower diesel engine (remember, this is Europe). Although GM says the Orlando is a “powerful suggestion of the upcoming production MPV” (possibly an additional model or a replacement for the Opel Zafira) due on sale next summer in Europe, there is no word yet on whether the U.S. will get this model.

MINI Crossover Concept

In an effort to expand the very successful MINI lineup, BMW will introduce this design study for the fourth version of the MINI – the current 3 being the MINI, the MINI Clubman and the MINI convertible. This “maxi” MINI concept is a foot longer than the MINI and over 3 inches longer than the Clubman. To give the Crossover more ground clearance the height of the vehicle was raised more than eight inches compared to the Clubman (making it almost 9 inches taller when compared to the MINI Cooper).

Unlike other MINIs, the Crossover has 4 doors. And while three of them are conventional (both front doors and the right rear passenger door, the door behind the driver slides back, much like a minivan. Although many of the features of the concept may not make it to the production vehicle, the official word from BMW is that this concept is a preview of a forthcoming model that will be sold in the U.S. – possibly as early as 2010.

We should get the good stuff, too.

While the new MINI will be coming here, there has been no word from GM on whether or not some version of the Orlando will be making the trip across the pond. But with gas prices down only slightly from $4.00 a gallon and SUV and truck sales in the dumper, we say “bring ‘em all on!”

Fresh styling, new platform

While most Americans have never seen a Ford Ka on the road, it has been a very popular car in Europe since it was introduced there in 1996. And with Ford Motor Company’s plans to globalize its models, now might be a good time to take a quick look its latest offering.

The original Ka was based on a modified Fiesta platform and featured Ford’s New Edge design created by stylist Jack Telnack. The new 2009 Ka, although carrying over the original version’s basic shape, has an entirely different look based on the company’s new Kinetic design found on such vehicles as the new Fiesta.

In addition to a brand new exterior and interior, the new Ka also benefits from a new platform. While the first generation was one of the best-handling vehicles in its class, it did so with a platform that traced its origins to the original Mark III Ford Fiesta circa 1989. The new Ka, developed as part of a common project with Fiat, will be built on the same production line as the Fiat 500 and will share the 500’s Fiat Panda-based underpinnings (with suspension, steering and chassis tuned by Ford). According to Ford, final testing for the Ka was conducted using a combination of public roads, proving grounds and race tracks – including the legendary Nürburgring in Germany.

Engine Options

Engine choices for the new Ford Ka include a 1.2 liter 69 hp Duratec gasoline engine and, for the first time on Ka, a 1.3 liter 74 hp “Duratorq” TDCi turbodiesel. Both engines are available with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions.

Ford expects the 1.2 liter engine to be the best seller and have engineered it to cut fuel consumption by 21% compared to the previous generation Ka. The 1.3 liter oil burner has achieved a combined mileage rating of 56 mpg (and you wonder why Europeans love their diesels).

The Rest

Ka will be available in two trim levels – Ambiente and Titanium, and there will be option packages that include Bluetooth® mobile phone connectivity, a USB port for music sharing, heated seats, heated windshield and a premium six-speaker sound system.

Will we see it?

There has been no word from Ford on whether or not the Ka will be making the trip across the pond. But with styling, handling and mileage that blow the Smart into the weeds, we say “bring it on!”