N. American Auto Show - 2009 - Detroit

[ned23]

Did anyone visit the North American Auto show? I visited yesterday. I admit there was some interesting stuff there but it was also very disappointing in a lot of ways. Here’s a brief recap of the interesting, the fun, the disappointing and the lame.Interesting: 1.Seeing Chinese auto makers new models. I probably would not buy any of them but it was fascinating to see what they’ve done so far. I’d say their technology was very reminiscent of the late 1980s, with the exception of slightly more modern fuel injection. 2. Denso’s parts display discussing their new 9x injection system and showing off their new interior graphics interface that included night vision. 3. Jetta TDI – Wish they’d import more of these. The mileage beat the pants off of everything in its class there, even most subcompacts, with the exception of the Ford Fusion (which beat it by 1 mpg) and the Chevy Volt (which only beats it on short commutes – not over the road). 4. New mini convertible and clubman cars, 5. Shelby Cobra. Fun: 1. Fun but corny was getting to ride in the electric vehicles in the little fake nature set-up in the basement. I got to ride in a Ford Fusion. Nice car but Ford still seems to have the same HVAC system they had in 1980. With the exception of the LED display the interior of the car was reminiscent of a 1990 Tempo. 2. Getting to sit inside all kinds of crazy, tiny cars. Disappointing: 1. The Pontiac Display 2. The general lack of functional prototypes with new technology. 3. Some cutting edge cars like Aptera were missing. 4. Other missing manufacturers, no Porsche, Land Rover, Suzuki, among others. 5. The gas mileage on a lot of subcompact cars like the Honda Fit. You’d think we’d be doing better than that by 2009 . The LAME: 1. Fake prototype electric cars with fake plastic stuff inside them. 2. Lame exploded anatomical models of hybrid electric cars and hydrogen cars 3. Manufacturers who did entire displays in Black and white with human models wearing black and white: LAME!. 4. DUB magazine display zzzzz…… 5. The Bently Display (why bother even showing up if you have to keep people 50 feet away from the cars?) - Dittos for Lamorghini, althoguh you got within 30 feet of those.

[Merzbow]

I went. It was alright. Rols Royce didn't even have a display, just sitting there behind a bunch of other displays.I agree with keeping people away from the Lamborghinis and Bentleys and stuff because have you seen how disgusting those poor cars get from the public? Those cars are rather expensive to allow people to touch those $40,000 matte paint jobs, break the interior, slam the doors, get in the way of my pictures! haha...Detroit just pushed away one of it's more important events by not expending Cobo. We lost a lot of participation from different companies. Ferrari, Porsche, Nissan, Land Rover. Next year no one will be there!Those Chinese automakers are getting on my nerves because they keep stealing GM designs, cheapening them down, and re badging them.I have pics if you don't mind if I post them up?

[ColonelPanic]

I was reading that several manufacturers (Suzuki I think was one) bowed out this year due to economics... maybe they'll be back if things improve.Sucks to see that the show wasn't all that great. We'll be in NY in a couple months, hope it's worth the trip.

[shemp]

This years show was ok. All the rage is about fuel efficiency, hybrids etc. I know that's the future, and I'm glad the technology is being developed.... but it's hard for me to get excited about it. The prospects of a car being more fun to drive with all that junk is slim, not to mention the cost this technology will surely add to cars.

[jake75]

The Columbus, OH Auto Show used to run 10 days - starting with a Friday VIP night that was a Charity Benefit, all though the next week, closing on Sunday night. Thus there were two weekends.This year it begins Thursday, March 19 and ends on Sunday, March 22 at 6pm. All that set up work for only only weekend. It will probably be a lot smaller than in prior years, yet they still are charging $8.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »..I agree with keeping people away from the Lamborghinis and Bentleys and stuff because have you seen how disgusting those poor cars get from the public? Those cars are rather expensive to allow people to touch those $40,000 matte paint jobs, break the interior, slam the doors, get in the way of my pictures! haha...Oh, I know why they did it. The question I had was why bother bringing them to the Detroit Auto show. They could have at least put them within, say, 6 feet of the fences instead of 50. Bently cars were so far away you really didn't get to experience them in any meaningful way. Lamborghini put their cars up at an angle so you could see the interiors.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Those Chinese automakers are getting on my nerves because they keep stealing GM designs, cheapening them down, and re badging them. Yep, they've done absolutely no original exterior designs. Some of the cars from the one manufacturer (Brilliance?) were total knock-offs. That said, every car is hand polished at the factory! (at 75 cents per hour, labor, probably...) and I bet they look great for about 2 years before they fall apart. Quote »I have pics if you don't mind if I post them up?post away!

[awfavre]

I went twice & was most impressed by the hands-on nature of the Ford displays, even though I’m not a Ford gal. They mounted a Mustang on its side, so you can see the topside & most interestingly, the underside. [I apologize for the links to my Flickr – I don’t have the software here to downsize the photos for posting purposes.]http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/ They also chopped away part of an F-150, so you could explore the bits & pieces you normally never see. People couldn’t take their hands off this display.http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/ I was most impressed by the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus. I think it signals a tide change for Ford (if they follow through on the R&D).http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/I saw the model displayed on a dais, but the kicker was their 2010 Taurus Theater display. They took a 2010 Taurus Limited, chopped the body in half, & mounted the panels on movable arms. You sit inside the car, the panels close around you, & they run a 90-second video clip while they hold you captive. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/Once I sat in that car, it sucked me in. I sat in the back initially, & the luxury feel was out of this world. I paid no attention whatsoever to the DVD, because I could not get over the feel of this car. This not your father’s Taurus! Then I made the mistake of sitting in the front once the video was done. That cockpit felt like nothing I’ve ever experienced in an American car. Everything feels proportioned exactly right, & the center console is higher. You feel almost like it’s a low-slung sports car. This is a driver’s car, & if it drives like it feels, it’s enough to make me buy a Ford for the first time in my life (after my I run my Vibe into the ground). Otherwise, I thought the GM & Chrysler displays were vanilla, to say the least. I was delighted to have an opportunity to sit in a Dodge Challenger & a Chevy Camaro. The Challenger felt, big, boxy, & a bit sloppy. By contrast, the Camaro felt more comfortable & form-fitting. The Camaro Black Concept is a gorgeous car. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/I’m also partial to the Pontiac Solstice, & I love the Coupe, coming out this year. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/The one GM display I really liked was for the Cadillac Converj electric car. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/It was certainly more interesting than the Chevy Volt, which looks dull & uninspiring to me (I thought the new combustion engine Chevy Cruze, not pictured, was more interesting as far as styling went). http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/Lots of folks were checking out the lone Vibe on display, but most seemed to be current Vibe owners. I heard lots of debate over the various differences in the new design. One guy was pretty cross the new model’s hatch window no longer opens. The Pontiac G8 felt kinda sloppy inside to me. I was expecting more from the car everyone says is supposed to challenge BMW. I suspect I need to drive it to get the real feel of it. The Scion display was cool, & it amazed me to see/feel the similar Toyota components in the tC & the Vibe. I was stunned how much room the boxy Scion xB has in the back. It was huge.http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/I was pleased to see the sportiness of the many electric/hybrid cars. Many of them look like they’d be a heck of a lot of fun to drive:The Dodge Circuithttp://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/The Mini Ehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/The Tesla Roadsterhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/The Fisker Automotive Sunset Plug-in Hybridhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/Last but not least, how can you resist a Lotus? They make me smile whenever I see one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a...44884/

[vibolista]

I vote Converj. Someone, please, produce the Converj.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »I vote Converj. Someone, please, produce the Converj. I'm with you, except I still remember the Volt:Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Of course, when GM first showed its Volt concept, the car was a low, two door sports model, and morphed into a Malibu-sized family sedan for production. If history is any guide, a production Converj will gain two doors, reduce its wheel size, lose some of the high-tech gear, and raise its roofline. I was on the Volt waiting list until I saw the production model, then dropped off the list and bought a 2009 Vibe, instead.

[Merzbow]

(removed), yea Ned, American car companies sure do have a knack for TOTALLY DESTROYING the wonderful looks of their concepts when they release the production models don't they?