2008 Detroit Auto Show Coverage by TCC
Team (1/9/2008)
Ford F-150, Hyundai Genesis and Corvette ZR1.
TCC Team
2008 Lincoln MKT Concept
This is a close one, but I am leaning heavily towards the Lincoln
MKT, which shows that there’s still life left in the old brand. Finally,
something that really breaks out in the increasingly crowded luxury segment. A
close second, in my mind, was the Cadillac
CT Coupe
, which shows you can draw on your heritage without going
retro.
Best Production
Vehicle: Hyundai Genesis
I’m definitely going to take
flak for this one, but I’m going to herald the Hyundai
Genesis
. Wait, you might say, didn’t your own preview suggest it looked a wee
bit too much like a Mercedes-Benz knock-off? Yep, it still does, but it’s a real
perception changer, suggesting that the Koreans are not only not content to stay
where we were all ready to ghetto-ize them, but that they’re ready, willing and
able to make a serious move on some of the world’s toughest competitors. Now
let’s see whether the market will actually accept a Korean luxury car.
Most Shocking Moment: Longhorn Lovin’
Those frisky bulls wandering down
Washington Blvd.
doing what comes naturally – even if there
weren’t any cows in the herd. The Dodge Ram press event also qualifies as
the…
Most Predictable Moment: Rampede
What do you do, it
seems, if you have a reputation for pulling off the biggest, most memorable
moments, year after year, smashing Jeeps through Cobo’s plate glass windows, or
launching minivans over the heads of its executives. Sooner or later, though,
you run out of shtick. Maybe it was predictable that this year would be that
moment. Oh, and second place to the Presidential candidates glad-handing their
way through Cobo Center in their bid for votes in Tuesday’s primary.
2008 Prediction
Well, I could take the easy way out
and predict that 2008 is the year of the Green Machine, but that’d be too easy.
So let’s go out on a limb, here. This’ll be the year that Detroit shores up its
share, reversing a decades-long downward spiral, with some of the most
innovative products and effective marketing we’ve seen in years. I’ll also
predict that at least one of the three senior managers at Chrysler won’t be
around for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, though Ford’s oft-maligned Mark Fields
will return, next year, alongside marketing czar Jim Farley and CEO Alan
Mulally.
Bengt Halvorson 2008 Toyota A-BAT Concept
To me, this neglected product segment is a
no-brainer — a little car-based pickup for either urban-dwellers or exurb-dwellers who have a
long commute and can't afford the fuel bills of a gas-guzzling truck.
For years shoppers have been frustrated with the lack of compact pickups or so-called pickup cars.
All the formerly compact nameplates now seem just short of full-size, and there isn't a single vehicle on the
market that offers pickup ability with truly high fuel economy, for people who
want to occasionally haul but have nothing to tow. The
A-Bat
promises that, with a useful midgate
configuration and a version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive and a four-cylinder
engine. It has the frugality that made the Rabbit Pickup and the Subaru Brat
stand out, without the design missteps of the Baja.
Best Production Vehicle: Ford Verve
The Verve sedan that Ford showed here
isn't officially a production vehicle, but darned close to it and, officials
confirmed, almost exactly how the 2010 model would appear. I'm going to let the
name carry it here. I could definitely do without some of the details, like the
three-bar grille and the chrome strip in back — both seemingly design
afterthoughts — but the
Verve
has great proportions, a sporty stance, and
more personality and presence than any American-bound small Ford.
Most Shocking Moment: A Car Event About
Bikes?
Toyota president Watanabe,
committing sacrilege in Detroit and using the M-word — that's mass transit —
in his address about sustainability. Did we hear "bike paths," too? Our ears
were still ringing.
Most Predictable Moment: Chrysler Execs
Confident
Bob Nardelli once again asserting, in his opening address at the Dodge Ram
reveal, that he has confidence in the automaker. Hello! He's at the helm.
2008 Prediction
A lot of heads are going to roll in
the industry, as companies reconfigure their products in the pipeline and plan
for tighter fuel economy rules.
Rex Roy
2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept
Unless
you've been holed up since 2000, you've been witness to the rebirth of
Cadillac. Back then the brand was written off for dead as its loyal but aged
Fleetwood and DeVille buyers progressed toward rigor mortis. The 2003 launch
of the first-generation CTS signaled the start of something
important. This was the first Cadillac designed and engineered by a group directed to again
make Cadillac The Standard of The World. Heady words, indeed, but with the
release of the 2009 CTS-V and other extremely capable models, it's beginning to
be believable. The CT
Coupe Concept
helps add more reason to believe that Cadillac's continued rebirth is
not a fluke. The lines are true to the brand and exciting to the eye.
Best Production Vehicle: Ford F-150
This vehicle will make or break
Ford. If it fails, the company will fail. If it is popular, the
company has a bought itself a few more years. The highest-volume member of
Ford's F-Series line has what it takes to compete with the GMT-900 trucks
introduced late in 2006 and the new 2007 Toyota Tundra. Compared to the new 2009 Ram
in terms of style, the
F-150
reaches farther and sports considerably more
refined detailing.
Most Shocking Moment: More Rampede-ing
When the steers got randy at the Ram
debut
.
Most Predictable Moment: The New Vehicle
Niche!
Every damn time every
manufacturer said that their new (insert name here) created a new category
of vehicle. The worst offender was BMW with the X6.
What the hell is a Sport Activity Coupe, and who cares?
2008 Prediction
GM will not lose sales leadership to Toyota. It’s still
not clear how 2007 ended, but with GM's new products, I think they have a chance
of taking it back.
Marty
Padgett
Kid Rock with 2009 Corvette ZR1
Maybe it’s because of the plethora of details that draw on the Fords
of the Sixties — check out the “thunderbird” taillamp and the chromed
trim on the seats. But the Lincoln
MKT proves that there’s new
life in Lincoln yet to
be discovered, with new vehicle types married to classic details. If it enters
production — and our bet is emphatically yes — the MKT
likely will get Ford’s 340-hp “EcoBoost” V-6, all-wheel drive, and a less
radical rear end. As it is, it’s the best of a strong showing of Ford concepts
including the Verve sedan and the Explorer America crossover.
Best Production Vehicle: Corvette
ZR1
Uh...guys...are you forgetting the
620-horsepower
Corvette
over there?
Most Shocking Moment: Detroit Show Is Right-Sized
So I’m the only person who missed
bull-on-bull action on
Jefferson Avenue
. To my great surprise, the shorter Detroit show seemed
right-sized. With fewer global introductions and a few absent automakers
(Porsche is one), the day and a half of media introductions didn’t feel
overwhelming. The shock? My feet are still attached after hours of walking in
dress shoes.
Most Predictable Moment: Cars We Totally
Expected
Can’t decide, it’s either
the introduction of the
Toyota Venza or the Cadillac
CT Coupe. One’s
much prettier than the other, one’s more
clearly destined for big sales numbers — and both, we could have told
you a year ago they were in the planning stages.
2008 Prediction
I can’t say much more than, watch this space
closely.
Email This Page