|
|
|
Dream on. Auto Shows are the Broadway of the Car Culture, the Hollywood of the Gearhead Set. Here is where the automakers of the world lift the curtain and show the world what it is they've been cooking up in design kitchens and on race courses. In the sun of Los Angeles and the snow of Detroit, amidst the bustle of New York and all points in between, automakers have once again given us reason to hope that designers and engineers huddled in secret buildings around the globe have yet to run out of ideas. From the sublime to the sensible, they keep coming up swinging with The Next Big Thing.
Sometimes they miss. Sometimes they hit it out. But it sure is fun to watch 'em swing.
2004 Los Angeles International Auto Show
Automakers practically boycotted the Los Angeles Auto Show this year, with few notable debuts and Toyota and Honda conspicuous in their absence. Most significant car introduced at the Los Angeles Show was clearly the new Chevrolet Cobalt. A nicely designed Cavalier replacement, the Cobalt is a premium small car and will begin production at the Lordstown, Ohio plant late in 2004. The Cobalt will offer a selection of body styles, interiors (interiors were not available for viewing), Ecotec four-cylinder engines, transmissions, suspensions and wheels. The Cobalt will be built on the General Motors Delta Platform. All told, the Cobalt lineup includes two models, sedan and coupe, and a total of eight trim levels. The sedan model features base, LS, LT and SS trims, while coupe models are available in base, LS, SS and SS Supercharged trims. Pricing will be announced in late summer 2004. According to Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars, the Cobalt sedan features styling with a european feel, and is intended to create a more refined experience in the sub-$20,000 vehicle segment. The coupe is sexier, and will usher in expanded agreements with aftermarket companies. According to Queen, GM "intends to be at SEMA in a big way" when it comes to developing the SS version of the Cobalt coupe. Queen and Chevrolet General Manager Brent Dewar cited the new wheels of the Cobalt as a step toward a refined and improved performance experience, with 17-inch wheels and tires on the SS model, and 18-inch wheels and tires on the SS supercharger model.
2004 North American International Auto Show
As quiet as Los Angeles was at the turn of the new year, the 2004 North American International Auto Show was loud --- a raucous party of automaker innovation, a carnival for the makers of autos to build them, show them off, talk about them and toast to them. More than ever, however, this year's show underscored the need to build cars bigger and better. Fact is, the captains of industry who build cars and sell them are pretty much responsible for 5% of the nation's economy. Nothing else really comes close. So the Auto Show is about more than back slaps and free cigars:
Incentives
It was obvious at this year's show that all automakers feel a significant roll back in discounts is imperative. And for General Motors and Ford, it's a critical issue: as they roll out new vehicles, they must convince buyers that they build quality vehicles - a tough sell because these same customers have now become accustomed to looking at Ford and General Motors as discounters. Consumers relate quality with price, and as such a discounted car means that the maker wants to get rid of the vehicle so bad that they have dropped the price. The question for consumers is: are you interested in paying full price for the new Chevrolet Cobalt, or the Ford Five Hundred?
Ford's recovery
Ford made a commitment at this year's show to take back a piece of the sedan/car market. General Motors, and, to a certain degree, DaimlerChrysler, followed suit -- but no one has as much on the line as Ford. With the redesigned Focus, Mustang, and all-new Five Hundred soon to be available, it's fair to say that the future success of the company rests on the reception these three vehicles receive. Initial reaction from the assembled press at Detroit was very favorable. If quality production, fair pricing and availability follow, Ford looks primed for a revitalization.
New vehicle avalanche
All major automakers are poised to introduce more new and redesigned vehicles in the next two years than ever before. Imports are attacking the domestic stronghold of trucks and utility vehicles. Domestics want more car sales. Minivans are back. The resulting stretch in the new vehicle market will create an array of vehicle choices that will significantly impact how consumers shop for vehicles. With such a wide array of choice in every segment, competition will be keen, and it's likely to hurt smaller automakers that survive on selling to niche segments.
And while increased choice is a great benefit to consumers, in the current automotive environment it may also be dangerous. Many consumers are now trading in three-year old vehicles for new, and using rebates to make up the amount owed. To accommodate, some dealers are offering up to 8-year loan terms. The resulting devaluation and impact to the used car market may well be severe. Given this, smart shoppers should investigate Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.
Most significant automaker
Toyota. With this year's planned national rollout of Scion, and the new tC, Toyota now has three legitimate brands that cross the spectrum of vehicle shopping: Scion for the young, Toyota for the mass middle, and Lexus for those in the luxury market. Mix in their plans to build a truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, and their ongoing hybrid advantage, and Toyota is well on the way to achieving their show-stated goal of 2 million sales next year (probably this year), and are priming the sales pump for future generations.
Most significant introduction
The 2005 Ford Mustang. If it's a hit, it will take the heat off of the Ford F-150, and, along with the North American Truck of the Year, will serve as the iconic foundation of a rebuilt Ford Motor Co. And the Mustang will be a hit. It will energize the line up of Ford cars and could be the car that helps end the incentive war and the import car drain.
Most exciting introduction
The Pontiac Solstice. A sharply designed, two-seat roadster for around $20,000? Awesome. With looks and interior quality that matches almost any roadster on the road - and captures the imagination like nothing else on the show floor -- the Solstice is a Lutz dream come true, and has the potential to dramatically change the way people think about Pontiac.
2004 New York International Auto Show
The talk at the 2004 New York International Auto Show was of hybrids and muscle cars, luxury vehicles and innovative technology. In what looks like a show of increasing importance, automakers are using the New York show to roll out significant luxury vehicles and innovations. Last year, it was the 2004 Toyota Prius. This year, it was the 2005 Acura RL, lane detection warning systems from Infiniti, and the biggest hybrid news to date: the production version of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid.
Most significant vehicle
It may have taken a long time getting here, but if gas prices continue to rise, the Ford Escape Hybrid will have a huge impact on the kinds of vehicles people buy. On its heels are the Lexus RX400 and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, a Saturn Vue hybrid and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Ford calls the Escape a "no-compromise" hybrid SUV, and has plans to deliver between 35 and 40 mpg in the city, and deliver the attributes of the base Escape. Like Toyota's Prius, the Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, able to run on either its gasoline engine and/or the electric motor depending on which delivers the most efficient fuel performance. A 65-kilowatt electric motor powered by a 330-volt nickel-metal hydride battery is located under the Escape's cargo floor.
Acceleration will not be compromised, according to Ford, and cargo capacity will remain the same as the standard Escape. According to Angela Coletti, Ford spokesperson for the Escape hybrid, the vehicle will deliver V6 acceleration performance. The Escape hybrid is what she terms a "no compromise" vehicle, able to function on-road, off or in a typical towing scenario. Emissions ratings are targeted to be SULEV and PZEV, which translates into virtually zero emissions.
The Escape hybrid goes on sale this summer. A 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid will follow sometime in 2006, and a mid-sized sedan equipped with this same hybrid power train arrives shortly thereafter.
Most significant luxury vehicle
For a long time. the Acura RL has been the forgotten car in the luxury sedan market, and Acura aims to change that. To that end, they rolled out a new RL that combines Acura's sport-lux reputation with advanced driving dynamics that includes SH-AWD, the world's first all-wheel drive system to also deliver torque between the right and left wheels. That should make for a pretty unforgettable ride. The new RL, available later this year, will be priced under $50,000, and offers customers a luxurious interior and a sporty ride that is sure to please those looking to inject a little fun into the driving experience.
"This is a different market than the existing RL," said Mike Spencer, executive vice president of sales for Acura. "We expect to sell around 12,000 new RLs in the first year." According to Dick Colliver, executive vice president, the new RL is the next step in the evolution of the Acura brand. "This new RL is where we are now, as we continue to rebuild the brand."
Improvements to the RL are widespread, starting with the exterior styling. The new RL has a sharp edge to it, starting at the bonnet and sweeping back toward a slightly BMW-esqe tail. This is unmistakably Acura, and should have no trouble fitting in nicely with the rest of the Acura lineup. Other features of the new RL include a one-touch climate control system and adaptive headlights. Inside, the RL is swathed in leather and wood grain, and boasts perhaps one of the most useful new pieces of technology available: real time traffic alerts. Culled from highway patrol (among others) reports, the Acura traffic link will be available in 20 major US markets this fall, including Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Chicago.
On the road, Acura seems to have a winner with the RL and its SW-AWD system - reportedly the first of its kind that distributes the optimum amount of torque not only between the front and rear wheels but also between the left and right rear wheels. The result is precise cornering performance that reduces torque steer and provides outstanding vehicle stability. According to Colliver, this new system will virtually eliminate understeer. By monitoring driver input and driving conditions, the SH-AWD system determines the optimum front-rear and lateral (left-right) torque distribution. This information is then conveyed to the rear differential, where direct electromagnetic clutches continuously vary the torque by up to 70 percent in either direction - front or rear. Rear torque can also be proportioned between the left and right rear tires by up to 100 percent on either side. The SH-AWD system is composed of an ECU, sensors that detect steering angle, lateral g-force, and other vehicle information, and a rear differential. The SH-AWD system uses torque not only for propulsion, but also to increase cornering precision and dramatically enhance vehicle maneuverability. During cornering, the track of the outside rear wheel normally falls outside the track of the front wheels. Because of this, the outside rear wheel does not rotate fast enough to keep up with the front wheels, preventing efficient transmission of torque. To counteract this condition, the SH-AWD system's rear differential is equipped with a built-in acceleration device that can overdrive the outside rear wheel. This acceleration device uses a planetary gear to speed up the outside rear wheel's rotation relative to the front wheels. The result is a significant enhancement in vehicle maneuverability during cornering. Luxury inside. Sport demon on the outside. From the looks of it, people aren't liable to easily forget about the RL anymore.
Most significant non-luxury vehicle
The adventure continues for Nissan. It has actually gone back to the start - back to 1999, when Nissan, in need of a hit, rolled out the Xterra, crossed its fingers and hoped for the best. It got, as Nissan marketers would say, everything it wanted. But the Xterra also delivered a few things that buyers didn't need, like a rough truck-like ride, smallish interior space and a base model not known for power.
Amazing what five years can do to the life of a car. For the Xterra, the lessons learned and steps taken during the past five years -- from the Nissan 350Z to the Titan full-size truck - have added up to significant and pinpoint improvements for the second generation Xterra.
"The changes in the new Xterra are evolutionary," said Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "For 2005, we've made key improvements in the areas customers want most, power, drivability, smoother on-road dynamics, more interior space and cargo versatility and, of course, greater off-road performance." Power improvements come by way of a 4.0-liter VQ-series V6 engine, mated to a choice of manual or automatic transmissions and in 4WD or 2WD configurations. Rated at 250-plus horsepower and 270-plus lb-ft torque (According to Nissan) the new engine is an increased displacement version of Nissan's VQ engine series found in the 350Z, Maxima and Altima.
Ride improvements are, according to Nissan, compliments of the new F-Alpha platform, the same architecture behind the Titan and Armada SUV. The interior of the Nissan Xterra was completely redesigned, with the same ideal of easy-use functionality but with more room, improved materials and what looks to be more intuitive controls. So on the inside, and underneath, it's fair to say that the Xterra is a completely different vehicle. Yet on the outside - where some would argue sales are made - changes were subtle, and stayed stubbornly true to the first Xterra. Design changes were, in fact, limited to larger fender flares - but not too large -- easy-step-up foot holds inside the back bumpers, and a larger stance, thanks mostly to the longer wheelbase of the new Xterra - 2.5 inches in width and 1.9 inches in height. The Xterra is due at dealerships in early 2005.
Most significant automaker
Lexus is, arguably, where every automaker would love to be. Consider the LF-C concept, for example: introduced as a strong signal as to the direction of a new IS line, the concept is more than what a car ought to be, it is a symbol of a thought that will drive Lexus forward in the coming years. "This concept addresses the changing face of Lexus," said Denny Clements, Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager. "The design language behind the LF-C is elegant, timeless and emotive."
But wait. There's a practical side to the LF-C. As the eventual IS, the LF-C's challenge is to redefine 'youth luxury' by filling the pipeline with multiple styles and options, and compete in that part of the luxury market with the likes of BMW. The design must also convey that flexibility, and also keep IS fresh in minds of potential custom applications. "Especially in California, young people are aspiring to buy luxury much, much sooner," said Clements. "This gives us an opportunity to do a better job on customization. The whole idea of customization is in every Lexus."
Designed by the Calty Design Research Center, the LF-C has a 4-position retractable hardtop in the LF-C. The hardtop design allows the car to transform itself at the touch of a button from a coupe to a convertible, to a targa or to a speedster. The powered top stows neatly into the trunk through a rear-deck opening. Based on a large rear wheel drive platform that utilizes a high-output, front-mounted V8 engine with a six-speed sequential automatic transmission, with an expanded wheelbase of 5.1 inches, the LF-C is only slightly longer overall than the current IS 300. The LF-C sits about 2.0.
Where the LF-C winds up - what makes it through the study groups and production criteria -- and how it stacks up as a multi-model offering, along the lines of the BMW 3, is of course to be determined. But with this thoughtful approach to the new IS, Lexus has given itself a good starting point to work from.
|
