North American Auto Show

[Napoleon]

For several years I have toyed with the idea of going to the show and have not, maybe because Cleveland's auto show is actually pretty good. In any event has anyone here gone and do you think it is worthwhile?

[Methanolandbrats]

http://jalopnik.com/5732584/thieves-swipe-7+series-from-bmw-at-detroit-auto-show :laugh:

[Don Quixote]

http://jalopnik.com/5732584/thieves-swipe-7+series-from-bmw-at-detroit-auto-show :laugh:


Also on the side of the law: The sheer impossibility of taking any part off a BMW 7-Series without at least two hours of labor.

:rofl: :rofl:

[devilmaster]

I usually go every few years... I enjoy the show, but usually refuse to go on weekends.... I go mid week....

[devilmaster]

looks like i'm at the show tomorrow.... not with the person i'd hope to go with but her sister... :\

Oh well, meh. I'm going to enjoy it, even if I have to ditch her somewhere in cobo... :laugh:

Might hit an old haunt and slide on over to the anchor bar on fort street for an MGD and an Avah burger... :D

[devilmaster]

Slide show time! Turn out the lights! Will someone turn out the freakin lights!

here we go...

not a bad show, but when you take away the basement show area so you can go drive electric cars, you remove alot of room....

The only ferrari and maserati in the joint...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs038.snc6/166876_10150129829166349_566411348_7829217_1886916 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs034.snc6/166413_10150129827326349_566411348_7829197_3052054 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs262.snc6/179075_10150129827741349_566411348_7829200_5382926 _n.jpg

[devilmaster]

Focus ST
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs744.ash1/163618_10150129832256349_566411348_7829253_6488268 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs245.snc6/179380_10150129832191349_566411348_7829250_1737095 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs762.ash1/165333_10150129831776349_566411348_7829245_4596501 _n.jpg

[nrc]

I like most of the pics I've seen of the new Focus but that one makes the headlights look pretty bulbous. Great that we won't have to wait forever for a sporty model, though.

[devilmaster]

HBO Entourage Car
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs043.snc6/167385_10150129834231349_566411348_7829272_6349335 _n.jpg

F-250 Superduty King Ranch Edition
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1385.snc4/163789_10150129833366349_566411348_7829262_7272708 _n.jpg

[devilmaster]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs014.snc6/166428_10150129831491349_566411348_7829242_1075878 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs760.ash1/165126_10150129831221349_566411348_7829237_5537702 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs046.snc6/167695_10150129830916349_566411348_7829234_5820796 _n.jpg

[devilmaster]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1393.snc4/164586_10150129832111349_566411348_7829249_5437993 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs011.snc6/166114_10150129831346349_566411348_7829239_3931750 _n.jpg

[opinionated ow]

That Focus is hideous...was it designed by Ford USA this time?

[nrc]

That Focus is hideous...was it designed by Ford USA this time?

Nope. Straight from Yurp.

The gaping maw is specific to the ST model. Here's the more common front fascia.

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/10q1/2012_ford_focus-auto_shows/gallery/2012_ford_focus_5-door_hatchback_photo_19/3159525-1-eng-US/2012_ford_focus_19_cd_gallery.jpg

[racer2c]

Overall the most uninteresting lot since the late '80's/early '90's.

[opinionated ow]

Nope. Straight from Yurp.

The gaping maw is specific to the ST model. Here's the more common front fascia.

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/10q1/2012_ford_focus-auto_shows/gallery/2012_ford_focus_5-door_hatchback_photo_19/3159525-1-eng-US/2012_ford_focus_19_cd_gallery.jpg

It's not much better!

[Methanolandbrats]

Send me the RS, I don't care what it looks like :)

[devilmaster]

So the review....

Detroit for the past few years has been in a hot debate about the expansion of Cobo. Everyone knows it needs to be done. They have a basement showroom, but it feels like any maker down there is relegated as a 2nd tier company.

This year, the basement is used solely as a track area for electric vehicles so that put every car maker and some aftermarket guys all upstairs to the main floor.

Needless to say space was at a premium. One thing I noticed this year from past was lack of racecars. Almost all makers used to bring a racecar into their displays, but the only one I saw on the main floor was Ken Block's Ford. the only other cars I saw was down in the food court where the UAW/Dodge truck brought a Kurt Busch tintop and a race prepped Viper.

If I had to put a tag on this year's show, it would be showing off the core business. Show off your product. I noticed that this year vs. past years there were more cars open to sit in. In the past good luck finding a Mustang to sit in, now they are all open. Challenger R/T, Corvettes, all open to sit in and try. My friend Kristen (she's the one standing next to the Ford truck) and I were trying out as many vehicles as we could. We're both around 6 foot, so sitting in them we kept talking about headroom and legroom the most.

So here's a few observations, complaints, etc...


New Mustangs have retro gauges from the 60s. It was simple yet a nice touch
I don't care how much stuff is in the car. I just can't see paying 45 grand for a taurus
The Fiat 500 display in Chrysler was big, but why not bring an Abarth?
Biggest crowd was around the Boss 302 Mustang on the rolling road. Nice sound too.
The 2012 Jag XK was beautiful.
How is it that a big ass Land Rover feels like it has the littlest room?
Racing games with the Xbox Kinect looks painful.... like Yoga painful.

[racer2c]

So the review....

Detroit for the past few years has been in a hot debate about the expansion of Cobo. Everyone knows it needs to be done. They have a basement showroom, but it feels like any maker down there is relegated as a 2nd tier company.

This year, the basement is used solely as a track area for electric vehicles so that put every car maker and some aftermarket guys all upstairs to the main floor.

Needless to say space was at a premium. One thing I noticed this year from past was lack of racecars. Almost all makers used to bring a racecar into their displays, but the only one I saw on the main floor was Ken Block's Ford. the only other cars I saw was down in the food court where the UAW/Dodge truck brought a Kurt Busch tintop and a race prepped Viper.

If I had to put a tag on this year's show, it would be showing off the core business. Show off your product. I noticed that this year vs. past years there were more cars open to sit in. In the past good luck finding a Mustang to sit in, now they are all open. Challenger R/T, Corvettes, all open to sit in and try. My friend Kristen (she's the one standing next to the Ford truck) and I were trying out as many vehicles as we could. We're both around 6 foot, so sitting in them we kept talking about headroom and legroom the most.

So here's a few observations, complaints, etc...


New Mustangs have retro gauges from the 60s. It was simple yet a nice touch
I don't care how much stuff is in the car. I just can't see paying 45 grand for a taurus
The Fiat 500 display in Chrysler was big, but why not bring an Abarth?
Biggest crowd was around the Boss 302 Mustang on the rolling road. Nice sound too.
The 2012 Jag XK was beautiful.
How is it that a big ass Land Rover feels like it has the littlest room?
Racing games with the Xbox Kinect looks painful.... like Yoga painful.


Thanks for the pics and review! I can't help but wonder if since the Mustang/Challenger/Camaro trio have reverted to their first gen forefathers, does that mean that the design cycle will see a return of the Mustang II, compact FWD Challenger and the screaming chicken F-body with leaky rear windows in about 5 years?

[Methanolandbrats]

Was the Golf R there?