Detroit Highlights Part 2

The Detroit Motor Show – officially known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) – is one of the world’s premier annual motoring extravaganzas. With the American motor industry having returned from the brink of collapse recently, it’s only fitting that 2011’s NAIAS arrived with quite a bang, with over 500 cars from around 35 manufacturers on display. Kevin Willemse recaps some of the highlights in this second installment.

GMC showed off their Sierra All Terrain HD Concept, which the US press seemed absolutely smitten with. Looking like a Ford F150 kitted for lunar duty, it is a handsome beast, with some fancy interior bits and the undisputed title of “biggest-grille-on-a-bakkie-ever”, but is definitely an all-American affair – I don’t see the European or South African market going gaga over something so spectacularly average and old-spec. However, the Ford Raptor is decidedly similar on many counts, but has won numerous awards and hearts on Western shores, so far be it for us to comprehend the oft-bewildering American consumer market.

Speaking of which, Ford were anything but absent from the show, showing a slew of existing specimens, some near-production models (highlighting some radical and good looking lighting, technology and design cues to feature on future model ranges) and their rally-spec Monster Fiesta, which it promises will dominate the racing scene in the coming years. Given how many top-notch drivers are opting for the rally-spec fezzer, they may be right.

Scheduled for 2012 production, their “C-Max Energi” plug-in hybrid was also on show, not only leaking information about their quite revolutionary “Powersplit” Atkinson-cycle engine technologies, but also interesting developments regarding their MyFord mobile phone app, which owners can use to monitor their EV’s status. Their bread & butter Focus hatch was also on display in its redesigned 2011 guise, including a concept all-electric

variant and even a gorgeous 2011 Focus ST in metallic gold. The brilliantly named “Vertrek” was also on display, a crossover SUV concept in the Sportage mould, concentrating on fuel efficiency technology along with futuristic good looks and tech thrown in, worthy of production consideration. Just don’t expect it to keep that name should it ever hit South African showrooms…

Chevy obviously had their 2011 Car of the Year, the Volt, on show in its hybrid glory. If you don’t know about this car, you should… and then you may consider putting in an order for any potential local version as it really is simply a good hybrid family sedan. Also, their completely new “Sonic” was on display, a compact 4-door family car, as the Aveo’s spiritual replacement. Thankfully, it is aesthetically far more pleasing than its forefather and so completely redesigned that Chevy insists it is “not the new Aveo” and badged it suitably. With Mustang-style lights, forward stance and high, sloping waistline, completely refined interior (along with the crazy, pimped-up spec of their concept “Z Spec Sonic” model) and availability in sedan and hatch variants, it looks to be a good global seller. It utilizes the same engine range available in their Cruze range, with the 1.4 turbo surely the pick of the bunch. Considering Aveo was something of a sleeper hit in SA, as opposed to many other markets, and Chevys’ relative affordability, I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Sonic on our shores before the end of the year.

Going East and further cementing their intent to take over the US market as far as possible, Kia had a strong stand. Somehow (especially over the last few years) they seem to have perfectly balanced bold design with practicality and overall quality to produce cars that represent fantastic value for money, even desirability, in almost all their classes. While their KV7 family-van concept may never see a production line in its current form, its “I’m bringing boxy sexy back” looks, along with clever seating arrangements, floating tabletop computer, online connectivity and embedded gadgets may have competitors worried about what the Koreans have up their sleeves. They should be, as history shows that whatever Kia puts on showroom floors, tends to find itself in some form or another into their production lines a few years later – anyone remember their 2007 “Kue” concept which now has seemingly morphed into their Koup and Sportage?

Hyundai also presented a slew of available and concept models as their contribution towards the Western invasion. The “Veloster” (no, I don’t know the phonetic translation, sorry) is a phenomenally good looking, funky and tech-riddled (with 7-inch touch-screen entertainment, bluetooth, and enhanced BlueLink technology providing navigation and information services) three-door coupe. And yes, that’s three doors – it has a driver’s door and two passenger doors on the opposite side. Surprisingly, it pulls this off well and putting it under consideration makes good sense. The first available models will roll out soon as 1.6-litre 6-speed models and is aimed at economy rather than performance – which is what their other showpiece, the Genesis Coupe, is aimed at. Hyundai’s new Accent was, disappointingly, not yet on show, but Hyundai US boss John Krafcik promised it will be at the New York show where it will, he claims, “kick the Fiesta’s butt”. Fantastic, we love a good fight.

However, the most intriguing demonstration in Hyundai’s showroom was their “Curb” concept vehicle. This curvy, futuristic sub-compact SUV coupe (OK I don’t even know what to call it anymore) with radical lighting design and psychedelic interior is the spokesperson for Hyundai’s new “Fluidic Sculpture” design language, while still retaining mass market manufacturing potential – perhaps without the roof mounted rear view mirrors and orange tyres of course.

Toyota used the Detroit show as a chance to reveal their extended family of Prius vehicles with the small Prius c “Compact” and the large Prius v “Versatility” and also a fun public campaign to determine what the plural for “Prius” should be: Prii? Prium? Priuses? No one knows. What we do know is that you can read a full report on the Prius c and Prius v right here.

Honda concentrated on their hybrid models with a showing of their popular CR-Z and Insight models, but lit up these models’ potentially dull image with some “R” versions with the usual bigger wheels, spoilers and similar go-fast goodies. The other usual suspects, as well as the new Ballade (more details here), were also on show.

There were literally dozens more manufacturers and industry players displaying their wares, but to cover them all would constitute writing the motoring equivalent to War and Peace. To end off, one interesting showing was from Johnson Controls, suppliers of high quality electrical gadgets that have become ubiquitous in almost every model on show. They took a Kia Soul and completely stripped it down to create a 160km range, 23kW Lithium-Ion battery powered EV with all sorts of fancy gizmos and ergonomic improvements, such as a slimmer seats and roof-mounted speakers to create a more spacious cabin. There’s also a transparent heads-up display that rises from the dashboard and separate touch screen mounted on a central sliding rail. The overall aim was to provide a useable EV with maximum utilization and provision of space, and Johnson has pulled it off well; hopefully carmakers will take note.

- Kevin Willemse