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Car makers shun Detroit show NAIAS 2009

By Simon Stiel Motor Shows 27 November 2008 11:28 The number of car makers pulling out of Detroit's major auto show, the North American International Auto Show 2009, is growing. The very survival of Detroit is being questioned as Congress debates the $25 billion aid package to save GM, Ford and Chrysler – and now it looks as if the NAIAS is under threat too. In the past weeks, Ferrari, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki have announced their withdrawal from the show, which is scheduled to begin on 11 January 2009.

Video: A Caterham Supersport and a snow-covered road

Anyone born before the automakers started trying to push front-drivers on us knows that rear-wheel drive and a set of decent tires will get you just about anywhere you want to go, even in deep snow. Skeptical? Take it from EVO magazine, which posted this video of editor Henry Catchpole enjoying a Caterham Supersport in all its sideways glory.

Jay Leno does Top Gear w/video

Jay Leno – petrol-head extraordinaire – is this weeks’ Top Gear Star in a Reasonably Priced Car Jay Leno, probably best known for his US chat show (retrd.) – and his hosting of the launch of the new Jaguar XJ – is the personification of the wealthy, true petrol-head. For the first time Jeremy will have a guest who probably knows more about more cars than he does. Jay certainly owns more cars than most of us could manage in a lifetime.