It’s still Motor City

Despite its struggle for automotive superiority in the U.S., Detroit still plays host to the largest automotive media event in the country -- the North American International Auto Show. The media frenzy begins next Sunday, Jan. 13, and the show is open to the public through Jan. 27.

Early show announcements lean toward environmentally friendly machinery: a trio of green concepts from Chrysler; a sporty diesel concept from Mitsubishi; a truckish hybrid-solar concept from Toyota; and BMW’s first production hybrid -- the X6 ActiveHybrid sedan (see related photos).

Help Dan Neil do Detroit
It’s all about access. We’ve got it, you want it, so we’re going to give it to you … by proxy. When Dan Neil goes to the auto show next week, he wants to ask top auto executives, engineers and marketers your questions: Why can’t I get a navigation system without a leather interior? How long before cars drive themselves? Does the use of energy-intensive aluminum to make cars lighter negate the potential carbon savings of increased fuel economy? Did CAFE work? Who was the worst car designer of all time? The best car commercial of all time?

Post your questions on the board below and, assuming they are politely phrased, Dan will put as many of them as possible to the eagles of the automotive field. Check back during the Detroit show, Jan. 13-18, at latimes.com/autos to get your answers.