Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Let’s face it, he’s a single dad with 2 kids and an Empire to run, so it only makes sense that Darth Vader would drive a sensible sedan like the Dodge Avenger. But the guy’s also got some style so this special Stormtrooper Tuner edition designed by Scott Anderson would probably be more suited to his needs.

A digitally-tuned 4.0 liter V6 engine powers an all wheel drive powertrain and you’ll also find a six-speed automatic gearbox with AutoStick paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. It’s also pretty high-tech with 2 Azentek 1.8GHz Intel Core Duo mobile PCs installed in the front dash and rear center console. The rear system allows passengers to enjoy games, music, videos and even surf the web while the front system allows the driver to digitally tune the engine as well as keep track of performance vitals.

Unfortunately though the horn doesn’t play either The Imperial March or the Cantina Band song, which I think is a missed opportunity. But just being named the ‘Stormtrooper’ is probably more than enough to bring Star Wars fans in droves.

There’s just a couple more photos after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

Anyone who followed the coverage of CES probably saw the giant Bumblebee Transformer mockup that was looming over the show. And while he appeared there in robot form, it only makes sense that he’d also make an appearance at the Detroit Auto Show in car form. But while the robot mockup was probably never used in the film (except as maybe lighting reference for the CG guys) this Camaro apparently was. In fact I could feel the presence of Shia LaBeouf while I was taking these shots.

The Camaro Bumblebee actually made its debut at the GM Style event held last weekend. Unfortunately due to the crowds I didn’t manage to get a lot of great photos of the event, but I managed to squeeze in a few lucky shots here and there.

And as usual, you can find a few more shots of the car and its blinding paintjob after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

If there happens to be an upcoming movie centered around a famous car, there’s a good chance it will make an appearance at various auto shows throughout the country. Sometime this summer the Wachowski brothers’ film Speed Racer will be hitting the theaters, and even if you’ve never seen the cartoon (guilty) you probably recognize the Mach 5.

Unfortunately the car was relegated to the Michigan Hall, and for those of you who have never been to the Detroit Auto Show you can basically think of it as the basement. Besides being next to impossible to find (the main escalator access is always tucked in the back corner of where VW sets up their booth) the lighting also sucks when compared to the elaborate setups upstairs. And unlike the Batmobile or Tumbler from recent films, the Mach 5 doesn’t actually run. Rumor has it the mockup car was moved around with a crane during filming, and will most likely be replaced with a CG version in the final movie.

By Andrew Liszewski

In a world where gas consumption has become a big issue, it makes sense that the once gigantic Hummer has evolved into the HX concept revealed at the show this year. (Or a bit earlier depending on who you ask.) While significantly smaller than its predecessors, the Hummer HX still manages to maintain the unmistakable Hummer look, as well as its performance. Designed by 3 young, recent additions to the Hummer Design Studio, the HX includes features like easy to remove doors thanks to exposed pins in the hinges, and fender flares with quick release fasteners allowing them to be popped off for additional clearance around the wheels.

The inside of the HX concept also has some nifty improvements. For one thing, there’s no conventional radio. Instead you’ll find a dedicated jack for an iPhone or iPod, as well as a USB jack for connecting a flash drive full of MP3s. The gauge layout also uses reconfigurable LCDs that can change automatically depending on the activity. For example, while driving the center gauges will display a speedometer and tachometer, but will change to a wheel angle indicator when the transmission is in low gear. Even the HID headlamps up front include focus rings that will automatically adjust when the vehicle is turned on, just like the autofocus on an SLR camera.

You can find some more photos of the concept after the jump, including a shot of one of the HX’s first celebrity encounters.

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By Andrew Liszewski

A few months ago I wrote about the Opel Flextreme concept vehicle which was built on GM’s E-Flex platform. Well since Opel (GM’S European brand) and Saturn share a lot of design traits, it was not that surprising when the company announced the Saturn Flextreme Plug-in concept at this year’s NAIAS.

The Flextreme uses an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to propel it up to 34 miles using only electricity. For most daily commuters that’s more than enough range, but if you have a particular long drive out to the ‘burbs, an onboard 1.3L turbo-diesel engine will generate additional power to replenish the battery while you’re driving.

Of course the feature on this concept vehicle that probably appeals most to the gadget community is the integrated storage for a couple of Segways. The specially modified personal transporters are stowed below the cargo floor in the back, and when docked will even charge alongside the vehicle’s own lithium-ion battery whenever the car is plugged into an electrical outlet.

More photos after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

Well I’m finally back from the 2008 North American Auto Show, and after a much needed evening of comatose sleep I’ll try to pump out as many posts as I can. I had hoped to get a few stories written while at the show, but a combination of spotty wifi hotspots and an insanely busy schedule thwarted my efforts. Later in the week I’ll have some longer posts about GM’s announced initiatives, as well as more on the show’s ‘green’ theme.

In the meantime though I’ll be posting stuff like this. As a gadget/technology writer walking the floor, you find yourself just as fascinated with the booths as you are with the vehicles. Scion has used this particular booth for the past few years now, but it’s still pretty cool. There’s a wall of vehicles along the back that are selectively covered and revealed by projection screens showing demo reels and other graphics.

This year though they added a Scion xD that had been converted into a crane game. While the line during the press days was never terribly long, I’m sure when the show opens to the public they’re going to have a ridiculously long queue to deal with. There’s a couple more pics after the jump showing how the game worked, and more importantly what the prize was.

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By Andrew Liszewski

Even though it’s the dead of winter, the weather in Detroit is surprisingly nice. But having grown up around the Detroit area, I have to admit flying in to attend a trade show here is a weird experience. For me trade shows happen in far off places, like Vegas, LA or even Amsterdam. But being here in a press capacity is an odd mix of work and home.

Anyways, enough of my 2am ‘tired out of my mind’ rambling. The show floor doesn’t actually open to the press until Sunday, so for now you’ll have to settle with random photos I took while walking to the convention hall to pick up my credentials.

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By Andrew Liszewski

As one trade show draws to a close, another one is just beginning. Tomorrow morning I’ll be flying out to attend the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. If you remember way back in September, General Motors had invited David to come and check out the company’s 2008 lineup at their Milford Proving Grounds, and this time they’ve invited me to check out their new stuff at the NAIAS.

While companies who exhibit at shows like CES have embraced bloggers and online-only publications, other industries have not been as welcoming. So I’m glad to see a large company like GM going out of their way to accommodate this relatively new media. (I’ll have more commentary on this later.) And while OhGizmo! is by no way an automotive website, today’s vehicles are no longer just cars. Navigation technologies, sound systems and even multimedia setups have made them just as appealing to the gadget-obsessed, as they are to the gearheads. So I’ll do my best to post my experiences over the next few days as time and sleep levels permit.

As part of the trip, GM has also asked me to disclose that they are covering my airfare and accommodations, however I’m in no way required or expected to write about my experiences. But as part of OhGizmo! policy, we would have disclosed this information anyways, and I would feel guilty if I didn’t share the experience with all our loyal readers.