2010 Detroit Show: An Electric Cavalcade

Washington, DC - January 4, 2010: The AIADA newsletter reported that with federal mileage standards rising, automakers next week will show a fresh group of fuel-efficient vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

According to Automotive News, Ford will unveil the redesigned production Focus, and Honda will show the production version of the CR-Z hybrid hatchback. Toyota and Volkswagen will roll out hybrid concepts; Audi, BMW, and Fiat will display electric concepts.

Show organizers are arranging various electric cars, including one from China's BYD Auto, in a space on the show floor called Electric Avenue. But high performance will get its due. Judging by vehicles at the show, performance cars and econoboxes will coexist happily in the 2016 model year, when automakers must reach fleet averages of 35.5 mpg.

But Chrysler and partner Fiat are showing some concepts that explore their product planners' ideas for the next few years. They will show a concept version of the Lancia Delta mid-sized hatchback with a Chrysler grille. They also will show an electric concept of the Fiat 500 minicar.