One of the many great things about living here in the Motor City is having the premier auto show, the North American International Auto Show, right here in your backyard. With 53 new vehicle debuts taking place at the 2012 NAIAS there are quite a few I am looking forward to seeing. With the Consumer Electronic Show being held the same week, it will be interesting to see the technologies featured on the vehicles and those that are being featured at CES.
Vehicle Launches
Cadillac ATS: Like many others, I can’t wait to see the new Cadillac. The legendary sleek luxury designs that Cadillac is known for are sure to shine through on this new vehicle. While I know I should certainly be appreciating the new 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with an estimated 270 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque that will be featured on the vehicle, I really just want to see the beauty of the interior.
Buick Encore: I love the Buick Enclave, but with a 50 mile/day commute, it just isn’t realistic. I am looking forward to seeing a smaller crossover vehicle from Buick. Buick has really stepped up its game over the past few years, implementing more style and technology into the brand. The Encore is scheduled to debut on January 10. In the meantime, it is slowly being unveiled on Facebook.
Grand Cherokee EV: This all-electric Jeep Grand Cherokee will feature all the award-winning features of the gas version of the vehicle but will include two rear-mounted Remy AC motors and have a range of 80-100 miles on a single charge. The benefits of an SUV with zero emissions and no gas. Tell me where to get on the waiting list for one of these!
Technology
If 2012 NAIAS is anything like last year’s, we will see a lot of new in-vehicle technology at the upcoming show. I am anxiously waiting to see what new technologies will help me use the five-plus hours a week I spend commuting to and from work more productively while still being safe on the road. DENSO International for example has announced it will be showing how cars will “connect” and “talk” to other cars and roadside structures like traffic signals. We can also expect to see aftermarket and OEM technologies from Parrot (Airfoil client) and others innovating new possibilities for in-vehicle connectivity and Internet accessibility.
-- Deana Goodrich is a senior account executive at Airfoil Public Relations, a high tech PR agency with offices in Detroit and Silicon Valley.
