I just finished my week in Detroit. I am lucky enough to schedule the same week every year, it’s the week of the North American International Auto Show. I was unsure how good the show would be this year, seeing how bad 2009 was for the auto industry. I was pleasantly surprised; it was a very good year for the auto show, especially Ford Motor Co. As soon as you walked into COBO hall, Ford was the first display you were greeted with. Their display was 50% larger than in 2009, and easily was the most interactive. My favorite part of it was the Ford Passport. You got a booklet with a map of interactive kiosks, and when you completed the game or task at each kiosk you could get your passport stamped. With four stamps you go to a main desk and redeem your passport for a Ford baseball cap, and you could even win a Best Buy gift card. The low point of the Ford display was the malfunctioning “Fiesta Movement” game. We were unable to play it before we left and receive the bonus gift. As far as the vehicles on display, they had the most of any manufacturer. My favorite was the new 2011 5.0 Mustang GT, with the F-150 Raptor, and 2012 Focus coming in at a close 2nd. There was a lack of concept cars however which is something I really enjoy being able to see. I think their main focus was on models you could actually sit in and buy.
GM’s presence was much smaller than in previous years, with no interactive displays. However the Buick and Cadillac part of it were very good. Buick had a Regal GS concept that looked ready for production, and would be the first real sporty Buick since 1987. Cadillac’s highlight was the XTS concept and the CTS-V Coupe. I must say I really missed Pontiac at the show this year, and I’m still quite mad at GM for axing this storied brand. Chevrolet had a fairly large display but with a lot less cars you could actually sit in. Oddly enough the Aveo RS concept was the coolest car there. Chrysler’s exhibit was even smaller than GM’s and not very exciting, just a few Challengers and one concept was worth looking at.
The other big players were there. Toyota as usual had a quite boring display, with their trucks tucked away in the back, as not to spoil their fuel efficient image. Lexus however had a much nicer exhibit, with the new LFA super car being the standout, it’s a complete stunner, and should be seen to be believed. I did not see much of Honda’s display, because there was nothing there to draw me in, pretty much the very same as I saw last year. Hyundai had a very nice set up, with the new EQUUS luxury sedan highlighting it. I saw the last version of this car when I was in S. Korea two years ago. This will be the first time it will hit the US shores, and Mercedes, and Lexus better be worried. Kia was there as well, and I must say they are getting much nicer VERY quickly. BMW was there, but its display was just as it was last year with nothing new, and the same could be said for Mercedes. The marquee makes, like Maserati and Ferrari had a minimal presence with one or two cars, and none you could get near, but it’s like that every year.
Most surprising car there was the Tango. It’s the smallest EV I’ve seen, and it’s also the fastest ever produced. It will do 0-60 in 4 seconds, and do the quarter mile in 12 seconds! I’ve never liked an electric vehicle so much as I liked this one. The other surprise of the show was the absence of Porsche, and Nissan for the second year in a row. One last thing before I end this blog. This was probably the sexiest car show I’ve ever seen. A Korean electric car maker CT&T must have known their cars were nothing much to look at, and had models with each one, all dressed in provocative outfits such as cat woman, school girl, police woman, and safari girl. As a whole all the manufacturers went out of their way this year to pair their cars with stunning models. Fiat even had a set of twins dressed in the tightest white dresses I’ve ever seen, not to mention a crowd of men around them, and I’m sure none of them could tell you what type of car they were next to.
All in all it was a great show, and a great weekend with my best friends. I’m looking forward to 2011, and another visit to COBO hall.