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