14th Annual Auto Interiors Show Opens in Detroit Today

The 14th annual Auto Interiors Show opens today at Detroit's Cobo Center and brings together leading manufacturers and automotive design and engineering talent who will share their vision of the road ahead in styling, safety, recycling, smart-car technology for vehicle interiors, OEM-supplier relations and more.

Executives from GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Toyota's Design Center, Honda and numerous Tier One interior suppliers such as Visteon, Faurecia, Alpine and Boston Acoustics, Lear, JCI, Key Safety Systems, and many others will be participating on panels or giving keynotes.

The opening keynote today at 9:30 a.m. will be by Chrysler Group's top designer, Ralph V. Gilles, vice president - Jeep/Truck, Color and Trim Studios and Specialty Vehicles, who will present a fascinating look into Chrysler's innovative new design studio. It's titled "Dedication to Interiors: A Day in the Life of the New Chrysler Group Design Studio."

Ford Motor Company's Carol Kordich, North America Strategic Design, will be on a panel with executives from Lear and Johnson Controls that will discuss "Environmentally Friendly Interior Materials: Changing the Way We Build." The panel takes place at 11:00 a.m. This afternoon at 2:00 p.m., Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America executive Kathleen Parikh, senior manager in Mitsubishi Motors' Design Engineering Department, will provide a Japanese OEM's perspective for future vehicles with her presentation "Interior Design Policy of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation." This keynote is part of the ITB Cockpit and Door Modules Conference run by the ITB Group, a Michigan-based technical and business consultancy.

Also today, the annual Ward's "Interior of the Year" awards presentations take place at 4:30 p.m. on the show floor. In all, 34 outstanding vehicles from 11 manufacturers have been nominated in seven categories and the winners will be announced at the show.

The finalist are:

ECONOMY-PRICED CARS (-$17,000)
Dodge Caliber
Honda Fit
Hyundai Elantra
Suzuki SX4
VW Rabbit


POPULAR-PRICED CARS ($17,000-$30,000)
Chrysler Sebring
Mini Cooper
Nissan Maxima
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry

PREMIUM-PRICED CARS (more than $30,000)
Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK
Lexus LX 460
Lincoln MKZ
Volvo S80

POPULAR-PRICED CUVS ($17,000-$30,000)
Ford Edge
Saturn Outlook
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Veracruz
Mazda CX-7

PREMIUM-PRICED CUVS (more than $30,000)
Acura MDX
BMW X5
Cadillac SRX
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes Gl-Class

POPULAR-PRICED TRUCKS ($17,000-$$30,000)
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Nitro
Jeep Wrangler
Toyota Tundra

PREMIUM-PRICED TRUCKS (more than $30,000)
Cadillac Escalade
Chrysler Aspen
Lincoln Navigator
Land rover LR3
Nissan Quest

GTR35 - 6/6/2007 2:27:17 PM

0 Boost

Since when is the Nissan Quest a Premium Truck?

Agent009 - 6/6/2007 2:59:38 PM

+1 Boost

They tag em not I.

pacotacolol - 6/7/2007 7:46:23 AM

+1 Boost

Where's Honda?

MunichRob - 6/6/2007 7:43:01 PM

+2 Boost

No Audi on this list either? Whats the auto-industry coming too?

Lexus - 6/6/2007 7:52:50 PM

-1 Boost

I have say many thing about Audi both good and bad, but this time it going to be good. Yeah! I actually was really surprise Audi is on not the list. Because out of the three German brand I have alway thought Audi interior is the that match the Lexus interior.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 2:01:38 AM

+3 Boost

LEXUS INTERIORS AREN'T THAT GREAT.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 2:02:04 AM

+1 Boost

...

JUGNU - 6/7/2007 6:34:24 AM

+3 Boost

S4 then why do we see Lexus being nominated almost every time for the best interior awards.(And they usually win them)

BTW look there is S80 competing with the likes of LS460 and Jag XK.
I told u guys and none of u believed me.S80's interior is really that great (only Volvo interior i like).

Now i hope it win the award.

JUGNU

MunichRob - 6/7/2007 7:45:23 PM

0 Boost

Yeah ok it might be nice but it's no way on par with the LS's & XK's interior. I've never understood the hype behind Lexus' interiors, they're understated, plain interiors to look at.

My biggest issue however with the interior of most Lexus' today is the microwave like digital clock that can be found in both the LS's interior, & the Toyota Corrola's.

GTR35 - 6/10/2007 9:03:41 PM

+1 Boost

You know, I tend to agree with what you say most of the times; honestly I rarely ever pay attention to Volvos but I guess I shouldnt be too biased.