A Green Theme For the 2011 Auto Show

Organizers plan to turn up the wattage on the 2011 version of the North American International Auto Show.

Environmentally friendly vehicles have become a big part of the show, with an "Electric Avenue" display of EV's, and an opportunity to take a right in an "green" vehicle in Michigan Hall.

"We want to take it a step further," said Bill Perkins, who's co chair of the 2011 North American International Auto Show. "We want to show the public and demonstrate to the public how it will be when the future of electric vehicles comes to pass."

Perkins telling WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert that the new display, which will be in Michigan Hall, will pull together the entire theme of how cars will be environmentally friendly.

(Auto Show co-chair Bill Perkins talks to WWJ's Jeff Gilbert)

"It's not just the electric vehicles," Perkins said. "It's the concept of green, period, and how people are going to live, and some of the things they will see coming."

Speaking from the Paris Auto Show, Perkins said that more details will come later. This year Paris show features a number of electric vehicles.

The co-chairs of the Detroit Show traditionally travel to the world's major auto shows. They are both trying to keep up with new developments, and meet with manufacturers who display in Detroit.

This year's show will feature the return of Porsche, which has sat out the last three shows. Other major auto makers, including Nissan and Mitsubishi, have not been displaying in Detroit recently. Perkins would love to see them return.

"We like to encourage them and what we like to do is make sure that our show stays in its place as one of the top press shows around the world," he said.

The major automakers have two other big auto shows before they display in Detroit. Press previews for the Paris Auto Show are this Thursday and Friday.

Just before Thanksgiving, the Los Angeles Auto Show will attract car lovers.

Press previews for the North American International Auto Show begin on January 10, 2011. The show will open to the public on January 15th.