What We'll See at the Detroit Auto Show - And What We'd Like To See
By Michelle Krebs January 9, 2010Thanks to the beat-down 2009 threw on almost every automaker, the 2010 installment of the 
North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week isn't expected to be one of the more ebullient in the storied show's history.
Most makers are laying low. And that's the ones who are even coming. Like last year, many automakers are taking a pass: Nissan and Porsche, for instance.
Many makers let the hometown companies make the biggest splashes, but Chrysler, for one, is displaying vehicles but having no press conference (our hopes remain Chrysler will import some Italian food to feed the media masses).
You can get a rundown of what will be displayed at the Detroit show at Edmunds.com's Inside Line. But we're adding a new twist: in addition to a scorecard of what some automakers are showing at the Detroit auto show, AutoObserver is adding what each automaker ought to be showing.
Audi
Audi will show the already-seen (and driven) next-gen A8, which is coming to the U.S. this fall. And a reputed all-electric concept car believed to be other than the well-traveled E-tron.
What Audi ought to show: Stop playing around and pull the trigger on a diesel for the Q5, maybe the best all-around vehicle Audi's current lineup. A Q5 hybrid is coming late in the year, and that's too long to wait, too, and it's sure to carry a monstrous price.
BMW/Mini
We're mildly interested in BMW's Concept Active E, a fully electric version of the 1 Series coupe. And the 740i, the BMW flagship fitted with the sweet 3-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder is a righteous move.
The Mini Beachcomber crossover concept was
unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show.
What BMW ought to show: The new 5 Series. Europeans mags and sites have shown it so much the Continent's already sick of it. And why is the X1 not coming to the U.S. until 2011? BMW needs some fresh ideas in this market, and the X6 doesn't count.
Mini: Well, once you do the crossover thing, the variations are just about finished.
Buick
The Buick Regal GS is genuinely handsome, if a little oddly proportioned.
What Buick ought to show: Something with more relevance. A Euro-ed up Regal is getting the cart just a little ahead of the horse, folks. And a manual transmission and Brembos? Please. The only reason for Brembos on Buicks is to keep them from crashing through the front of the barber shop.
Cadillac
The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe ought to be red-hot for about seven minutes. The big news is the XTS concept, foreshadowing the single-model replacement for the unfairly unloved STS and the big 'ol DTS.
What Cadillac ought to show: A flagship that doesn't simply ape the styling of the CTS. And something that shows there's a clue about what the next Escalade needs to be.
Chevrolet
The Chevrolet Aveo RS concept has the look of a winner to it, something that could fill the youth-market chasm Honda's left with the Civic and Kia's too cutesy to own with the Soul.
What Chevy needs to show: You know what Cadillac's CTS Sport Wagon should have been if GM really was serious about making money? A Malibu Sport Wagon. GM planners resolutely missed the boat by not capitalizing on the Malibu's success -- we're not buying lack of development funds as an excuse.
Chrysler
Chrysler will show Fiat's new and magnificent-looking Lancia Delta with Chrysler badging. While the Delta looks fab, the proof will be in the driving. Fiat's had some colossally bad platforms in the past, and the last thing Chrysler needs is overstyled new compact and midsize cars riding on yet another underachiever architecture.
What Chrysler ought to show: Video of them melting the tooling for the Caliber. And the Sebring. And...
Ford
It looks like the new 2011 Ford Focus will be the star. And the 2011 Ford Mustang with the awesome-on-paper new V8 that had better be awesome to use.
What Ford needs to show: A Focus that's coming in our lifetime, for heaven's sake; why are we always waiting for "the good" Focus? The four-cylinder EcoBoost because the V6 version still drinks like nobody's biz. And where's that unibody replacement for the Ford Explorer, already?
GMC
The GMC Granite concept car is thought-provoking, if not entirely sorted-looking.
What GMC ought to show: A unibody midsize pickup. No-brainer.
Honda
The Honda CR-Z two-seater is starting to get us focused on the ZZZZZ... part of the badge. Looks pretty good, but all the Honda Insight hardware its uses needs some heroic modification if the hybrid successor to the Honda CRX is to have hope of being remotely engaging to drive.
What Honda ought to show: A concept car that shows Honda's up to its old tricks: change-the-world ideas. Unless the piano-playing robot is ready to drive a breakthrough next-gen Prelude on stage, Honda, we're gonna need a new CVCC engine or something to convince us you're still in the game.
Hyundai 
The all-new Hyundai Sonata looks marvelous one time, kinda creepy the next. And we like the Hyundai Tucson -- but does it have to be so cheap?
What Hyundai ought to show: OKy, following everybody else's playbook has worked pretty well so far. When's the real innovation coming? At least show us another one of those wacky HCD concept cars or something -- the mainstream-success thing is starting to get boring.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz will show the E-Class Cabrio.
What Mercedes ought to show: A compact car that would be worth paying a price premium over a Volkswagen Golf.
Toyota
A hybrid version of the nifty Toyota iQ isn't a bad play. But man, that's a small car. You've seen what's happening to Smart, right?
What Toyota ought to show: Something -- anything -- with some gusto. The joint-venture coupe with Subaru isn't going to be enough.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is unveiling a hybrid concept car. Why does it still seem the Germans are just going through the motions with the hybrid stuff?
What VW ought to show: Make that Bluesport "eco" roadster a reality -- you're calling the shots now, you don't have to worry about upstaging Porsche anymore. The conventional stuff is covered, fer crine out loud. -- Bill Visnic, Senior Editor
Photos
1 - The North American International Auto Show, which holds press days beginning Monday, January 11, waves outside of Detroit's Cobo Center. (Photo by NAIAS)
2 - BMW Concept Active E. (Photo by BMW)
3 - Mini Beachcomber concept. (Photo by BMW)
4 - Buick Regal GS concept. (Photo by GM)
5 - Chevrolet Aveo RS concept. (Photo by GM)
6 - Hyundai Sonata. (Photo by Hyundai)
7 - Volkswagen Bluesport Eco concept. (Photo by VW)
LEAVE A COMMENT
I don't think the Buick Regal GS is even going to be a halo car for the division. GM could have saved a ton of money by just giving away "Sexy Grandpa/Grandma" bumper stickers at the auto shows.
Seriously, they should have started by creating a Buick Motorsports group to market the development of cars like the Regal GS. Buick has been out of motorsports for longer than most of the target market for this car has been alive.
By mutually developing and offering aftermarket component kits or turnkey cars with reputable, well-known tuners, they would have nurtured street cred for such a car.
As good as this car may be, there is no reputation or credibility that precedes it.
"What Cadillac ought to show: a flagship that doesn't simply ape the styling of the CTS."
Yes, because the Audi A3, A5, A6 or the BMW 3, 5 & 7 series have such distinctive styling. It would be incredibly insane for the Cadillac folks to similarly style their larger sedans after their generally well thought of CTS. Instead they should shoot for an entirely different look so there's no division similarities at all.
I hope the sarcasm is easy to discern.
I did not get the comment about Buick Regal GS. I am sorry but it is not a professional journalism. But when last time you did you see professional journalism in America. All journalists do these days is presenting their personal political bias instead of reporting facts. So Autoobserver's conclusion is that Buick Regal is such a crap that most likely will go out of control and crash into barber shop if is equipped with standard brakes. Michelle did you ever drove Buick Regal GS? How in the world do you know it is not able to stop in front of barber shop with standard brakes? I can assure you that it is much better car than Toyota Camry or Huidai Sonata that you adore so much. Please stop treating us like small kids and report facts.
Gee, savetheland, since I can pretty much guarantee you've not driven the Regal GS or the new HYuNdai Sonata (I could see missing one letter, but TWO AND adding an extraneous one?), I can assure you that you don't know how either of them compare to the Camry, either.
ADD A COMMENT