The 2009 Detroit Auto Show is the best car show in the world. There, we've said it.
Never mind those people wringing their hands about snow on the ground, the aging facilities at Cobo Hall and the antiquated image of Detroit as the rusted capitol of yesterday's technology. Instead you should see this as the most important presentation of cars and trucks in the world.
Sure, times are tough. This year the display stands are more like new-car showrooms than Vegas-style theaters. Several car manufacturers decided to save money by staying home instead of building displays for Detroit (there's even talk about cancelling the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show altogether). But even though some carmakers have wimped out this year, if you want to know what's going on in the world of cars, you go to Detroit. The European manufacturers know it, the Japanese and Korean manufacturers know it, even the Chinese manufacturers know it.
Automotive Entertainment
And the best thing is, you can have a great time doing it. We particularly enjoyed the confident spirit of the Audi stand, with its dramatic, flaming red R8 5.2 FSI, not to mention the R10 TDI that won the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford has a full-size Taurus cutaway that splits apart so you can see the inner workings. And at Jaguar, you'll find an example of the new supercharged, 503-hp V8 that seems to be levitating above the floor.
If you want a look into the future, the display for the Michelin Challenge Design features provocative models and renderings from independent designers from around the world. The display for Eyes on Design celebrates major design accomplishments at this year's show, and the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the BMW Z4 have won the production-car awards, while the Audi Sportback and Cadillac Converj have earned the concept-car awards.
The biggest entertainment attraction lies in the basement, where 70,000 square feet have been set aside for a short ride-and-drive circuit in a lush, green environment so you can take a loop of the course in an electric or hybrid vehicle. The speed limit is 10 mph, but we have reports of 20 mph being possible. The environment is perhaps a bit more green than one might expect, as the smell of the tree mulch is awfully strong.
Trends at the Show
Of course, the car industry is now caught in the cross-currents of change, and there are talking heads on every television screen rattling on about the future of the automobile. Yet you can see the future of the automobile right on the floor at Cobo Hall this year, as there are plenty of trends to be seen.
As you'd expect, there are plenty of hybrids and electric cars. Tesla is at Detroit for the first time, and you'll find the first public showing of a stripped Tesla Roadster, complete with its Lotus-built aluminum frame and the big, high-mounted boxes of battery cells. (The Lotus stand is nearby, oddly enough.) Right across from the Tesla you'll find the gorgeous display of the Fisker Karma, an electric car that has real style as well as powertrain political correctness. Meanwhile Cadillac, Chrysler and Dodge have interesting concepts, while the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Honda Insight are clean-air vehicles you can buy today.
Strangely enough, there are a surprising number of new sporting automobiles on display, more than you usually see at places like Frankfurt or Detroit. The BMW Z4 hardtop convertible is here, as is the Stirling Moss edition of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster, while the Volkswagen Concept BlueSport is a sports car to come. Jaguar is also displaying an XFR sedan that went 225 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Detroit's Most Significant Vehicles
Among all the vehicles we've covered at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, these are the ones we've found to be the most significant:
Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro: The R8 gets a 518-horsepower, direct-injection version of the Lamborghini V10, and the result is a 196-mph supercar. This showcar's red paint and wider rocker sills make it even more dramatic. There's also one more dramatic number, which is the price tag of $180,000. A GT3 racing version is being developed, but unfortunately no one wants to talk about last year's diesel-powered R8 concept.
Audi Sportback Concept: The Sportback concept is a glimpse of the forthcoming A7 that is scheduled to appear in late 2010. Though it's easy to be distracted by this car's 225-hp 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine with its seven-speed automatic transmission — a combination apparently capable of 40 mpg — the real significance of the Sportback comes from its presentation of Audi's new styling vocabulary.
Cadillac Converj Concept: This is Cadillac's version of the Chevy Volt, a beautiful touring coupe on the Volt platform. It features the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the Volt, featuring a lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor and an inline-4 engine. GM has announced it will assemble batteries in Michigan, but it appears the lithium-ion components will actually come from Korea.
Chrysler 200C EV Concept: This four-passenger electric vehicle reminds us that future EVs can be luxurious instead of simply practical. This one combines a wind-cheating shape, a platform derived from the Chrysler 300C sedan, an electric powertrain with a 40-mile range and a panoramic touchscreen for the operation of all the interior controls.
Dodge Circuit EV: Here's an EV that's a sports car, promising 60 mph in 5 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph. Like the Tesla Roadster, the Circuit EV is based on a derivative of the Lotus Elise platform, and its 268-hp electric motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack.
Fisker Karma: This is the production version of the Fisker all-electric GT car revealed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, a plug-in hybrid that combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a lithium-ion battery pack. Deliveries begin in November 2009 if you've already put down the deposit on the $87,900 price tag.
Ford Taurus: The 2010 Taurus is refreshingly conventional compared to the plug-in hybrids seen throughout the show, as it's simply a new full-size sedan on the current Taurus platform. The breathtaking European-style shape is the signature of a car that has carefully evolved, from its multilink rear suspension to its 263-hp 3.5-liter V6.
Honda Insight: The Insight magically transformed itself from a 2009 model to a 2010 vehicle between its introduction to the press and its unveiling in public. It turns out that this bit of future spin is appropriate, as this Honda makes hybrid technology affordable, which is the most important next step in the development of alternative fuel vehicles.
Lincoln C Concept: Lincoln is racing with time to redevelop its product lineup before the credibility of its nameplate evaporates, and this wild, Focus-size hatchback with its turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 will certainly get the attention the Lincoln executives crave.
Volkswagen Concept BlueSport: This midengine concept car from VW shows us that small, fuel-efficient cars don't have to be boring. Smaller than the Scirocco coupe just introduced in Europe, this BlueSport is powered by a turbocharged, 177-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 diesel that's supposed to get 35 mpg in the city.
At the Show
The 2009 North American International Auto Show runs from January 17-25 at Detroit's Cobo Hall. Total attendance of 700,000 is customary, so weekends are very crowded.
The show has encouraged community involvement with several activities including a poster contest, and special activities include Racing Day on Friday, January 23, that will feature NASCAR stock cars and four racing simulators in the lobby. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under the age of 12, and can be ordered online.
Parking is available at Cobo Hall as well as numerous parking garages in the downtown area. In fact, parking spots can be purchased online beforehand. The Detroit Red Wings are on a road trip during the show, so their fans shouldn't complicate matters. The Detroit People Mover makes it easy to get to the hall from within downtown, while show-sponsored shuttle service to Cobo is available on the weekends from the Detroit Zoo and The Henry Ford at Greenfield Village.
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