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North American Auto Show

By: Steve Legel
Never mind the naysayer and critics of the United States Big Three automakers. Never mind Delphi, GM and Ford headlines.
Detroit is still the automotive capital of the world, and the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) proved it again in 2006. It doesn’t happen in Los Angeles, it doesn’t happen in Frankfort, it doesn’t happen in Tokyo… it happens here in Detroit.
Automakers from around the world come to Detroit to display their latest offerings, their upcoming product introductions and sashay their concept cars. The automotive media descend on Detroit in a feeding frenzy for the latest and greatest automotive news. The event takes a month to stage and two weeks to run. Heck, the first week isn’t even open to the public. Media gets first dibs on the juicy views and news. Industry insider days follow. Only credentialed engineering and marketing industry insiders are allowed in, and they come with tape measures and calipers, nosing in, under, and around the competition for comparison and innovation. Premier night, the night before opening to the public, showcases not only the cars, but the stars. The stars of Detroit’s auto, media and political elite attend the Children’s Charity preview. Glitz and Glam with TV coverage, the event raises MILLIONS of dollars for local children’s charities. I never read about that in articles covering auto shows across the oceans. Only then does the show open to the public. A give and take with locals and visitors alike takes place. The automakers give you the cars to see and booklets to take home, and they take back input by listening to the viewer’s observations. Some Detroit families boast many generations in the automotive industry. Most of the time there is fierce loyalty, nostalgic memory and ‘Built in Detroit’ pride.

This year’s highlights include the sensational muscle car redux at Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro. Huge multi media displays illuminated the exhibit hall overhead. This year’s auto show was more exciting than many in memory.

The Dodge Challenger concept car was stealing the show and the media publicity (including a suspected late night naked model photography session). As retro styling projects go (VW, PT Cruiser, Thunderbird, SSR), the Challenger got it right! Overheard around the concept car display was plenty of testosterone induced grunts and lots of “old Mopar” talk. The concept is a complete hit. Similar to its 1970’s namesake, the Challenger concept uses the same underpinnings as its Dodge Charger and Magnum counterparts, and the Chrysler 300. In the 1970’s the Challenger used the same “K” member front end, shared with the Imperials, Newports, Belvederes and Chargers... “put in whatever engine you want, this baby’s built to handle them all”. Should they build the Challenger? Probably so. Charger buyers have loved their car, masculine in style, but many would have liked a lower slung, sportier, non 4 door look. Since the underpinnings are there, only safety and sheet metal need be resolved… but… mark my words… it’s one thing for a middle aged baby boomer to grunt and want a muscle car… it’s another to crack that wallet and pull out the close to $38,000 for the hemi equipped metallic orange screamer. Remember also that the original Challenger was late to the muscle car party, and its devotees, while devote, are few in number. I’ll bet DCX marketing teams will crunch the numbers very tight.

The Chevy Camaro on the other hand, is not so much retro at all. It is a dynamically (read that Cadillac inspired) styled, powerful and modern, with its only retro cues a close resemblance in the taillights and some fake fin openings on the rear fender. Surely more of a hit with a younger, not baby boomer market.

Ford’s Shelby Cobra concept car is retro taken to the max. You could put the concept next to a 66 Shelby in Wimbeldon White with its blue stripes and swear they were twins. It will show and it will go!

As for Thunderbird. Well it’s retro is retro right out of here. Not a mention at all. In fact mine was the only one there, and it was parked on the Cobo Hall roof parking deck. But then again, in the “Way Forward” plan I don’t expect to see any mention of any bygone Ford product. I agree.

Pontiac put together the nicest styled line up. Graceful lines, sleek front ends, differing from the maddening crowd.

I eavesdropped a lot among the younger drivers for their sense of autodom. Seems looks and performance are of little concern. Where to plug in the iPod and where to set the cell phone and presence of a rear video screen were priorities… everything else was just a car, taken for granted.

I feel sorry for automotive design engineers. Other than color, and I must say this year, and in the future we’ll see some great color in automobiles… gads! get rid of the platinum silver already! Bold metallics are coming, in burnt orange, blues and greens… oh yea, you’ll know which car is yours!! For the rest of it, cars, SUV’s, crossovers, all looked the same. Interior appointments were all comparable. You could take silly putty, make an imprint of any car you like, then stretch a little here and squeeze a little there, press your imprint back down, and there you have it, somebody else’s minivan. Limited by engineering parameters of material weight, safety, fuel economy, wind drag, buyer’s body size and optimum seat comfort and support, common option packages… there are, after all, just so many contours on a draftsman’s french curve.