Home » Business» Automotive
Loading…

Published: 1/15/2012 - Updated: 4 months ago

Eye candy to fuel efficiency drive ’12 auto show in Detroit

BY TYREL LINKHORN
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Facebook Twitter Reddit Digg E-mail Print Rss

DETROIT — After spending a few years in a dazed stupor of sorts, the automotive industry seems to have regained some of its swagger.

The North American International Auto Show opened to the public in Detroit’s Cobo Center Saturday with dozens of manufacturers displaying more than 500 vehicles — some of which made their world debuts during the two-day press preview earlier in the week.

“The displays are definitely a lot more vibrant,” showgoer Aaron Knight said. “There’s a lot more going on. There seems to be a lot more people than I remember in years past, even from the automakers.”

Mr. Knight and fiancee Stephanie Schilling made the drive from their Toledo home to check out some of the new models.

GALLERY: Detroit Auto Show

STORY: Concept-to-show room becoming a shorter journey

He was looking at sports cars and she was looking at trucks, but they both were impressed with the Ford Flex hatchback.

“I’d never seen the inside of those, but that really is the perfect replacement for a minivan,” Ms. Shilling said. “Every mom hates that final, ‘Ugh, it’s time for a minivan.’ But that thing is pretty sweet.”

The auto show may not be as elaborate as it once was, but a collective confidence was on display in the Motor City.

Organizers say this year’s show is the largest ever in terms of floor space, with 25,000 square feet added from last year. And though the Detroit show may no longer be the industry standard, it remains a hit for both auto enthusiasts and prospective buyers.

“I think this is one of the best places to go to view any type of car you’re in the market for, to get a feel for them, and to have someone explain a little to you as far as the capabilities, the handling, the features. I think it’s well worth the 10 or 20 bucks to get in,” said Monroe resident John McCarter, who with his wife, Katherine, is beginning to shop for a new ride.

Their considerations included price and fuel economy, though for Mr. McCarter, who stands well over 6 feet tall, a comfortable fit was also vital. “That’s been a big issue, but I’m really impressed with the Buick,” he said while standing next to a Buick LaCrosse sedan. “It’s a very nice design.”

The couple’s 3-year-old son, Gabriel, also seemed impressed, happily grasping the leather-wrapped steering wheel as the family checked out the interior. “We thought he might be a little impatient, but he’s doing really well,” Mr. McCarter said.

The McCarters thought the auto show would get them to a point where they’d be ready to narrow their choices and take a car for a test drive.

“For the money, if I were to go out right now, it would be the first thing I drove,” Mrs. McCarter said of the Buick.

Most manufacturers allow showgoers to hop into their vehicles to get a sense of the interior space and appointments. That won’t happen with a Bentley or Maybach, two of the premier brands on the show floor, but a Ford Mustang convertible or BMW 3 series? No problem.

Several manufacturers, including Ford, have added driving simulators that put showgoers behind the wheel of digital versions of cars.

Some, although not all, of the displays remain a bit toned down. Lincoln has a very large display featuring special artwork, its concept MKZ sedan, its current production models, and a display of Edsel Ford’s recently restored 1934 Model 40 Speedster.

South Korean automaker Hyundai, fresh off a North American Car of the Year award for its compact Elantra, also has a spiffy display that rivaled some from higher-end manufacturers.

BMW features a large overhead display from which video images seem to leap out of the wall and onto the show floor.

Mini has bolted a Cooper convertible to the wall on roller-coaster rails.

“I drove one a couple years ago and it’s like driving a go-cart,” Toledoan Mike Bruss said. “It’s real fun.”

But one doesn’t have to be an enthusiast to appreciate the show.

Michael Davisson, who grew up in Perrysburg, came to the show with some friends from Cedarville University near Dayton, where he studies electrical engineering.

“I’ve never been really interested before, but now that I’m starting to see everything, I am,” he said. “I guess with knowledge comes interest.”

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at: tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.

Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.