AUTO SHOW TO OFFER ELECTRIC AVENUE The 2010 North American International Auto Show will debut Electric Avenue -- a new feature showcasing electric vehicles and technology at January's event in Detroit. The 37,000-square-foot display on the main floor of Cobo Center will highlight the importance of solutions such as advanced battery technology and their role in changing the game on energy consumption. The exhibit will feature nearly 20 vehicles, along with symposiums and special events on the adjacent NAIAS stage. "Electric Avenue is going to be a unique feature of the 2010 NAIAS that will enable us to educate a diverse audience about the long-term viability of the auto industry using a subject that is top-of-mind globally these days," said NAIAS chairman Doug Fox. "Each year, our show strives to provide an innovative approach to providing excitement. As one of the primary stops on the global show circuit, we are able to draw key media and help exhibitors tell the short- and long-term strategies to a passionate audience of consumers and industry leaders." In addition to Electric Avenue, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's EcoXperience will also return to NAIAS, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience electric vehicles on a one-quarter-mile landscaped track in the lower level of Cobo Center. FORD DEVELOPS NEW POLICE INTERCEPTOR Ford Motor Company is confirming plans to develop an all-new police vehicle designed and engineered to replace the Ford Crown Victoria law enforcement vehicle lineup in 2011. The new "Ford Police Interceptor" is being developed in conjunction with Ford's police advisory board, which provided input during the past 14 months on key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort, the company said in a statement. The new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria, which is assembled in St. Thomas, ends in late 2011. The plant, employing about 1,300 workers, is also slated to close its doors. "We have heard the repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support of the law enforcement community," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Ford is answering the call with the new Police Interceptor -- engineered and built in America." Ford -- which currently controls approximately 75 per cent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S. -- has invested significantly in designing the purpose-built new police and municipal vehicles to meet the needs of these crucial customers. The automaker plans to reveal the new model and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010 -- in time for law enforcement agencies and police equipment manufacturers to develop a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product, the company said. DRIVERS WANT PETS TO RIDE IN COMFORT Consumers' insatiable appetite to shower their beloved pets with accessories at home is now influencing automobile purchases. LeaseTrader.com, a U.S. online car lease swap marketplace, reports a 67 per cent increase in the number of American customers who shop for a vehicle with pet needs in mind -- an increase from 24 per cent three years earlier. But pet lovers today need to satisfy their desire for pet-friendly features along with economic realities. Increasingly, LeaseTrader.com customers are trading large SUV leases in favour of smaller, more budget-conscious vehicles still considered pet-friendly. Since the beginning of 2008, LeaseTrader.com has seen this trend double and expects to see continued growth in this area. "Hatchbacks and station wagons are filling the needs of pet owners looking for a little extra sportiness and space to fit the family pet," says Gina Spada-fori, executive editor of petconnection.com and dogcars.com. "The ability of the car industry to identify the needs of this growing subculture shows a new-found commitment to innovation and customer demand." Next week, Honda will launch its "pet-friendly" Element compact crossover SUV, which comes with a new pet accommodation system complete with a rear ventilation fan, extendable ramp, and cargo area pet restraint system all for the safety and comfort of the family pet. gmacaluso@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5573 © Copyright (c) The Windsor Star // load up cookied story font size getStoryFontSize();
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