It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an ... electric car?

By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

En route to a zip around the Detroit auto show's EcoXperience test track, a new exhibit added this year in Cobo Center's basement, I came across the most lovable car of the show: the NmG (aka: No more Gas).

"It looks like a banana!" laughed my father on the phone when I sent along the website. Personally, I think it resembles a shoe - a lady's pump to be exact, which is a good play on the company's motto: "Laugh your way past those pumps!" (or while driving a "pump"). 

According to the company's website, Myers Motors, the all-electric, three-wheel car can travel at highway speeds of 122 km/h and costs US$29,995. Though there's one catch, unlike the Smart fortwo (starting at $14,990): it's a vehicle built for one. 

Mitsubishi joins the party ... but nobody notices (yet)

By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

A few weeks before the official start of Sunday's media days for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was clear that several automakers would be absent from this year's exhibition: Porsche, Land Rover, Suzuki, Nissan/Infiniti, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Mitsubishi. (Read more here.)

Though it turns out Mitsu declined - but then accepted - the RSVP.

Sandwiched between Hyundai, Smart, Maybach, Bugatti and Revenge Designs is dimly lit, medium-sized chunk of real estate occupied by the Japanese car maker. Better late to the party than not at all.

Come again: Auto show or fashion show?

By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

The itinerary read: "Lamborghini Fashion Show." Not exactly what journalists expect at a major international auto show.

The writers, bloggers and TV personalities are used to see cars coming down the catwalk - not models. (Though models have a more prominent role, posing next to cars at this year's show - see The real show stopper: The babes.)

With a few thousand (mostly male) journalists gathered around the Lambo stand, the lights dimmed, three massive TV screens positioned behind the three supercars on the stand came to life and the music blared like a Paris couture show.

Then, one by one, out marched the girls, prancing around, twisting, posing and seducing the cameras -- all while sashaying between the Lambos. There were three female models, all equally attractive, and a lone male model -- poor guy -- who elicited laughs from the crowd (keep in mind: auto show preview days are one of the only events I've ever been to where men wait in line for the loo while women waltz in and take their pick of water closet).

Why Hummer and Saturn won't last at GM either

By Michael Bettencourt

We've given you the goods already on why Saab's future as a brand under GM is shaky at best, so now it's time to touch on why Hummer and Saturn likely won't survive either, at least as a GM entity. Hummer has officially been on the shopping block for the past six months, although it hasn't exactly been a seller's market for car companies this year.

The problem with the brand is that it somehow became a poster child for the evils of the environmentally unconscionable, argued Bob Lutz, GM's (current) car czar, a perception that couldn't be shaken despite the best efforts of Canadian Martin Walsh, who until recently headed up the brand in Detroit.

Saturn was a different story, with highly lauded products, and a modern vehicle fleet, but couldn't muster up enough sales or recognition from its 400 or so North American dealers to make it work. "We certainly spent the money on Saturn products," lamented Lutz, noting that the Sky roadster that debuted for 2006 was the oldest vehicle in that brand's lineup

Although no timing was set, it's clear that Lutz want something done sooner rather than later. "It's got to be soon, because we have to get rid of things that aren't paying for themselves."

Lutz: What brands will stay, and why

By Michael Bettencourt

Although nothing is set in stone in these turbulent times for the Detroit Three, GM's vice chairman for product Bob Lutz broke down how all of GM's brands around the world stacked up, and the likely future for each.

It's no secret that some GM brands are not likely to survive, at least in GM's hands (see related Saab, Time to Go posts). Here then are the ones that remain part of GM's long-term strategy, according to Lutz, in (my own) order of relative importance:

Chevrolet: GM's one true mainstream global brand.

Cadillac: Also a strong global brand, sales can't match some luxury competitors, but profitable.

Buick: More of a regional brand, but very strong in China, which GM is trying hardest to spare from product cuts.

GMC: Also a regional brand, but still profitable, although with little sentimental value.

Vauxhall/Opel: These European Saturns will likely keep their separate identities, Vauxhall for England, Opel for the rest of Europe.

Pontiac: the G8, G6, Solstice and Solstice Coupe will remain, said Lutz, but the days of Pontiac as a mainstream brand will likely come to a close.

Holden: Another regional brand, this one from Australia, but one which has integrated itself into the global product pipeline, as a source for rear-wheel drive V8s especially.

Saab a "luxury we can't afford," says GM

By Michael Bettencourt

Saab may have a future past this year, but the way things are sounding now, that future won't be with GM for long.

GM vice chairman of product development at first wouldn't discuss future specific Saabs to come or not come at all, but where the future of Saab as part of the GM family seemed pretty clear.

"Saab has never been profitable, and likely never was, so it's just a luxury we cannot afford right now," said Lutz.

He didn't specify how long GM could keep the brand's lame duck status going, as it was already named as a brand that was not part of GM's future in plans submitted to the U.S. government. GM and Chrysler have until the end of March to submit a final plan to the government on how they plan to restructure themselves into smaller, profitable versions of themselves, but their initial plans are due in to the government on February 17.

Fisker: greening the world with beautiful cars

 By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

The absence of some traditional carmakers (Suzuki, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Land Rover) from this year's show means the spotlight shines brighter on others.

Last year Fisker arrived and surprised the crowd with its deliciously sexy hybrid: the Karma. This year it wowed the crowd again.

While the niche automaker debuted its production model Karma, it also offered a first view of the Karma S convertible. For a while it seemed that most automakers were ditching curvy body lines in favour of chunky boxes or aerodynamic designs that look more Jetson's than J.Lo. Thankfully, Fisker is bringing sexy back ... and making it enviro-chic.

The Karma S is a two-door convertible with an automatic retractable hard top. Henrik Fisker, the company's CEO, pledged to debut the production car - the concept is badged with the word "Sunset" - at the 2011 Detroit auto show.

When GM's Bob Lutz has no comment, you know it's bad

By Michael Bettencourt

Bob Lutz, GM's charismatic vice president of product development, is rarely at a loss for words, and even more rarely does he decline to answer any questions posed to him by the automotive press, who appreciate the fact that he is often the only person in the entire company willing to provide a small window into the inner workings of the company.

So when he declined to comment in a roundtable with journalists today whether a redesigned Saab 9-5 was coming out this year, the silence hung thickly in the air, as the runaway commentary train that usually is Bob Lutz was locked firmly in the station.

"This is as bad as I've ever seen it," said Lutz, when asked whether he'd ever faced any situation like the current one he and his beleaguered company now face. "Even at Chrysler it wasn't this bad, as the overall economy wasn't as bad, and there wasn't a credit meltdown going on at the same time."

He also pointed out that the government regulations imposed on the car companies have become much more stringent since he was heading up Chrysler, the only automaker to now receive two government bailouts in different generations.

Plus he sees a collapse of the small car market that was doing so well in U.S. at the beginning of the year, thanks to lower gas prices, as American consumers start to slowly turn to trucks again.

Finally, a chic Lincoln for those under 65

By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

All car companies have stereotypes associated with their brands. Quick: What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Lincoln? Typically, it's fedora (grandpa at the wheel), airport limo or parents piloting their kids to soccer games in hulking Navigators. The image is far from young, hip, urban and ...fuel efficient.

Enter the Lincoln C Concept, one of the few vehicles that managed to stay in a secretive bubble until today's unwrap.

The real show stopper: The babes

By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos

For all of the new millennium cars have been the focus of the Detroit auto show. But this year it's the girls.

Girls were a big part of the Motor City auto show right up till the 1980s, according to a quick survey from veteran colleagues. And they are still a big part of European auto shows and the biennial Tokyo Motor Show.

Over the past few years the makers of exoticars - Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari - have prominently displayed models (though tasteful babes) next to their pricey wheels, but this year the auto show girls are everywhere.