2004 Detroit Show, Part X

2004 Detroit Auto Show Coverage (1/4/2004)

Downtown Detroit came alive this week when automotive media and industry executives flooded in from all over the world for the 2004 North American International Auto Show. And despite a brief snowstorm and punishingly low temperatures, it was impossible to cool things down inside Cobo Hall, which barely could contain more than 60 new production vehicles and concept cars and trucks. Here’s what TCC saw in between the intros:

Want a drink? It’s always a good idea to know the guy pouring your beer. In these two shots you’ll find Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler’s COO and product chief, pulling at the tap, while CEO Dieter Zetsche works the other side of the bar. “Try the Pacifica Chardonnay — slow build but a nice finish.”

BMW is proud of its cars’ stylistic heritage — so what better place for CEO Helmut Panke to regale journalists at a Monday night dinner than in the Diego Rivera Court of the Detroit Institute of the Arts? He’s standing in front of one of the artist’s most famous murals, an interpretation of life along the assembly line in the era of the Model T.

Risking political incorrectness, it’s hard not to comment on Michigan’s glamorous chief executive, Jennifer Granholm, who attracted quite a crowd during her Tuesday tour of Cobo Center.

They could be hitchhiking, but it’s more likely Chrysler’s new PR chief Jason Vines and journo Justin Hyde are showing their approval of the annual APA reception marking the start of press days at the auto show. That, or giving our lensman a Gladiator-style reprieve.

PR man of many duties Jon Pepper uses the cover of the APA reception to cross into enemy territory, where the former journalist spends a few moments chatting with GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Bloomberg columnist Doron Levin.

Actually, you’re likely never to catch Carlos Ghosn sleeping on the job, but we couldn’t resist this image, which actually finds him pondering an auto writer’s question during a Detroit roundtable.

Vic Doolan, U.S. boss for Volvo Cars, strikes a pose in front of the automaker’s all-new V50 wagon following its worldwide debut.

Ford President Jim Padilla strikes a pose alongside Detroit PR executive Ray Eisbrenner. Both were enjoying the shrimp and Chardonnay at the APA reception.

The inimitable Denise McCluggage shares a grin with Courtney Caldwell, publisher of American Woman Road and Travel, during AWRT’s pre-show reception on Sunday. McCluggage, a long-time racer, writer and contributor to TheCarConnection, was honored as Woman of the Year.

These days, Pete Rosenau has given up his career as one of Detroit’s most successful car dealers. Perhaps Ford COO Nick Scheele is trying to convince him to return to the showroom?

Now you probably knew we’d sneak in a shot of TCC’s stylish associate publisher, Christine Anderson. She’s joined by AutoNation’s chief exec, Mike Jackson, and journalist Denise McCluggage.

TCC’s Chris Anderson again, this time flanked by media pioneer Elaine Baker, to the far left, Kathleen Ligocki, the CEO of Tower Automotive and, to her right, Pete Rosenau, now a partner in the Detroit PR firm of Anthony M. Franco. (Franco serves as the PR house for TCC).