Detroit Auto Show Debuts Generate Edmunds.com Buzz
January 20, 2010
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit just opened its doors to the public on Saturday, but already some vehicles introduced during the previous week's press preview have been generating substantial buzz on Edmunds.com.
Vehicles driving the biggest increases in Edmunds.com's site traffic are: Audi A8; Buick Regal GS concept; Ford Focus; Ford Transit Connect; and Honda CR-Z.
Audi A8
The 2011 Audi A8 is an interesting story. Audi's flagship sedan generated nearly 15 percent more site traffic the week before its unveiling at the Detroit auto show.
That suggests, perhaps, the anticipation may have been more compelling than the debut of the car.
Buick Regal GS Concept
General Motors' Buick division has been doing a good job of generating interest in its new vehicles, especially the Regal.
Most recently, the Buick Regal GS Concept, unveiled at the Detroit auto show last week, breathed new life into the mainstream vehicle's pages. Regal site traffic soared 46 percent compared with the previous week.
Readers of Edmunds.com's Inside Line acknowledged Buick's reputation as building cars for older people, but added the Regal was the first Buick they could see themselves driving. One even described it as "sexy."
Wrote another reader: "Not only is the new Regal the first Buick that I could see myself in, it's a car that has the 'Gotta have it' look to it. It looks like I'll be driving a Buick for the first time in my life."
In December, GM unveiled the production version of the Buick Regal at the Los Angeles auto show. It, too, generated tremendous buzz on Edmunds.com and similar comments.
Ford Focus
Ford is also on a roll. The 2012 Ford Focus unveiled at the Detroit auto show last week saw Edmunds.com site traffic shoot up 72 percent.
In a word, most site visitors said "finally" -- the U.S. is, at last, getting the Focus Europeans have driven for years. And Americans, judging by comments on Inside Line, want all of the sporty versions of the Focus that Ford offers Europeans.
A month earlier in Los Angeles, the newly unveiled Ford Fiesta generated substantial interest as well as Edmunds.com readers were downright ecstatic, calling the car "stylish and fun," a "game changer" and "a stunner" that is "probably the best looking car in its class."
Ford Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect was hardly known by Edmunds.com readers and likely the public at large -- until last week.
The clever little cargo van imported from Turkey won the highly coveted North American Truck of the Year, given by a jury of 49 independent journalists. As a result of the award, visits to Transit Connect pages on Edmunds.com skyrocketed by more than 400 percent.
Ford also won the North American Car of the Year award for the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Ford's sweep of the awards was the first by any automaker in 17 years.
Honda CR-Z
The 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid was the hot topic of conversation, particuarly among the tuner crowd that visits Edmunds.com's Inside Line. Traffic on Honda CR-Z pages rose 63 percent in recent weeks.
Indeed, interest was strong when the concept Honda CR-Z was presented at the 2009 Tokyo auto show last October. Reception among enthusiasts on Edmunds' Inside Line was upbeat and hopeful, with readers offering comments like "Woot!" and "Should get CRAZY high gas mileage!" and "This is the perfect car for me."
However, something happened between Tokyo and Detroit. Readers were disappointed in the production version of the CR-Z shown in Detroit. Early reactions included comments like "Color me disappointed" and "They completely butchered the concept " and even "This makes my soul hurt." -- Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large
Photos by Manufacturers
1 - Audi A8
2 - Buick Regal GS Concept
3 - Ford Focus
4 - Ford Transit Connect
5 - Honda CR-Z
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 4:39 AM under Analysis , Featured , Ford | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
Ford also won the North American Car of the Year award for the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Ford's sweep of the awards was the first by any automaker in 17 years.
Are you sure - I thought Honda and GM won both awards udring the past decade.
Posted by: guy1974 | January 20, 2010 at 6:03 AM