Blog: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

There is so much hype surrounding the Auto Show, it's kind of grody. But it is what it is, one of this region's biggest annual events and a major economic stimulus.

I pray that something -- expansion, remodeling, anything, please -- happens to Cobo Hall, as it is literally one of the most depressing public structures to which I've ever been. Can a new Joe Louis just be announced already, for god's sake?

Also, an elevated walkway to the Sheraton is one thing, but to the Renaissance Center? Um, that's a really, really long walkway. And isn't there a People Mover stop at both places? Just sayin'.

</end rant>

Anyhoo, when it comes to green technologies at the show, there were many and myriad. I definitely get the impressions that no manufacturer wants to put their eggs in one energy basket, which is reasonable, but I wish I felt more of a sense of urgency, like a full-on race to the future (or maybe that's the AXP vibe rubbing off on me!).

I sorted through the green technologies presented at the show and divvied them up roughly into four categories: plug-in hybrids, guilt-free luxury, standard engine fuel efficiency and diesel. I'll tackle two today and two Wednesday.

Plug-in hybrids: Of course, the Chevy Volt, last year's Auto Show superstar, led the mainstream charge for plug-in hybrids, but will not be available until 2010.

Chrysler, widely acknowledged to be the perennial tortoise in this race introduced three concept plug-in vehicles, the eco-Voyager, a four-door passenger sedan, the two-seater Renegade and the all-electric Dodge ZEO sport wagon. But will concept become reality?

And finally, Toyota announced it will have a plug-in ready for purchase in 2010 -- for a face-off with the Volt -- and promised to announce two more models at next year's Detroit Auto Show.

Fuel efficiency: A push for fuel efficiency with good-old fashioned internal combustion engines could be seen as well. Ford is putting its chips behind the EcoBoost engine, a more fuel-efficient powertrain that it plans to use in about 500,000 vehicles in North America during the next five years. The engine uses direct-injection and turbocharging technologies and costs less to make than a hybrid -- and Ford is claiming a 20% increase in fuel efficiency.

Another example of this is in the Smart Car which simply gets 60 miles per gallon. No mumbo-jumbo, just a smaller, lighter vehicle that uses less gas. Overall, small car sales are expected to grow 25% through 2012 so look for cars -- like the Ford Verve -- that are already available overseas to be rolled out over here to meet that demand.