tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9783162.post-1169148241897643932007-01-18T12:54:00.000-05:002007-01-18T14:26:49.263-05:00<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paladin27/361589631/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/6193/1225/320/66329/Chevy%20Volt%20Concept.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's a beautiful time of year. The magical time of year when Detroit is host to the North American International Auto Show, and when we can all take a look at just about every car worth looking at all within the confines of a single convention center. Though the shiniest and more interesting cars to look at may have only concerned those looking for a new Maybach or <a href="http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/detroit-auto-show-rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-bows-barons-rejoice-227292.php">Rolls convertible</a> (I figured I'd head to the NAIAS as I consider buying a new Bentley to help fill up my garage), there were plenty of cars for the common man. Best thing about it was that most of the cars for the common man are open, allowing you to sit in them, which is particularly important if you happen to have trouble fitting into cars. While I'm only 6'4", apparently that is just too tall in the eyes of those who design cars. They simply don't like the look of me in pretty much anything with a sunroof or the majority of convertibles (I can fit into a Porsche convertible quite well, however -- it's only too bad that Porsche is a little out of my price range). That aside, there were so many new cars in one area that the new car smell was almost overpowering, and there were plenty of shiny new concepts to check out from behind the safety buffer of velvet ropes as well. For those of you who have not been to Cobo to check things out yet, I highly recommend going -- it's a sight to behold. Show hours and ticket prices are available from the <a href="http://www.naias.com/PublicShowTickets.htm">NAIAS website</a>. You have until this Sunday before all the chrome wheels and soft velvet ropes pack up and move out of town.<br /><br />The 2007 NAIAS has many particularly interesting technologies and concept cars, but I'll only list a few of them. GM's <a href="http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/">Chevy Volt</a> "e-flex" plugin hybrid is worth taking a look at, as well as the new <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62381387@N00/361286021/">Chevy Camaro</a>. Ford's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Interceptor">Interceptor</a> concept and the <a href="http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/well-drive-this-tanker-ford-airstream-concept-226696.php">Airstream</a> concept are both worth taking a peek at as well. The Airstream is mainly of interest because of the strange lounge setting that also includes a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/up-close-with-the-ford-airstreams-360-degree-tv/">360-degree TV</a> that can function as a lava lamp or fireplace.<br /><br />Ford also debuted their Sync technology, which allows for voice activated iPod integration that also works with any portable music player that can plug in via USB. GM's iPod Personal Audio Link system for iPod was also present. Ray tried them both out for Jalopnik -- Obviously <a href="http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/microsoft-and-ford-get-nsync-at-the-detroit-auto-show-and-ces-we-get-first-exclusive-handson-part-1-226702.php">Sync</a> is more entertaining to look at, and looks like it could be a huge pull factor for Ford, but taking GM's <a href="http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/jalopnik-exclusive-we-test-gms-patience-and-personal-audio-link-system-for-the-ipod-228104.php">PAL for a test drive</a> is interesting simply because of the drive itself. </div><center><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDiVWPtn010"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDiVWPtn010" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object></center><br />For more on the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, I suggest you head down to <a href="http://tags.jalopnik.com/cars/detroit-auto-show/">Jalopnik</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9783162-116914824189764393?l=raywert.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594081434306390751noreply@blogger.com6