Auto no-show

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} There was no cattle drive through Detroit this year, where only the bare bones of a distressed automobile industry will be on display at the North American International Auto Show.   Where last year Chrysler drove a herd of 120 cattle through the streets on the first day of media previews at the Detroit auto show to promote the launch of its revamped Dodge Ram pickup, this yearÔÇÖs event was accompanied by a snowstorm equivalent to the economic blizzard sweeping through the industry.   In previous years Chrysler has taken over the downtown Detroit Firehall for a lavish party for the media and industry insiders, but there is no glitz and glamour this year.   Neither are there any vehicles on show from European luxury carmakers Porsche, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, who have all stayed at home, along with Japanese manufacturers Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Suzuki.   But the show goes on, and with the addition of some Chinese automakers, as well as Lotus, Aston Martin and Tesla, there are actually more manufacturers with displays in Detroit this year than there were last.   There are fewer new launches, however, and among those, fuel efficiency is the dominant theme. Ford, GM and Chrysler are all unveiling hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles this year.   Among the notable unveilings is GMÔÇÖs unfortunately named Cadillac Converj (yes, that it the correct spelling), a concept car based on the same plug-in technology as the Chevrolet Volt. GM also announced plans to build a Chevrolet Spark subcompact that will get 40 miles per gallon (it was called the Beat when introduced as a concept car in 2007).   Ford is announcing its a new strategy for moving toward electric power and Chrysler is unwrapping an electric performance sedan called the Chrysler 200C.   On the one hand, one wonders whether the ÔÇ£Big ThreeÔÇØ would be surviving on borrowed government money now if they had done something like this last year, but on the other, now the price of gasoline has fallen to more acceptable levels, one wonders whether North American drivers are ready for a large scale power switch.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *