2011: the year of turnaround

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Automakers showed off their latest and greatest at the 23rd edition of the North American Auto Show in Detroit last month. And it seems the industry is more optimistic about its prospects for 2011

 Author Chandan B Mallik 

At the 20th edition of North American International Auto Show, better known as the Detroit Motor show in 2008, it was theatrics hand-in-hand with hot machines inside and outside Jacob’s Cobo Convention centre. Anyone there at the time would surely remember the famous cattle drive that introduced the Dodge Ram and the pulsating music and dramatic unveils inside the hall. In three years, a lot of water has passed under the bridge -- General Motors and Chrysler tumbled into bankruptcy and North American car sales dropped sharply in the recession as a result of the global economic downturn. Most car makers’ fortunes were affected and the strain began to show.  Detroit usually hosts the year’s opening show for automakers, but in 2009 and 2010, nobody from the industry knew what was going to happen next and hence there were conscious signs of restraint and somewhat cautious decision making. While, the US-homegrown auto makers continued supporting the North American International Auto Show in Detroit despite economic difficulties, but this year, it may be a sign of the changing times for the venue as the fact that several car makers preferred to showcase electric vehicles and new technologies also at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a few days before the annual Detroit gig. The brighter side at Detriot according to participants and visitors at the 2011 show was signs of the first wave of industry confidence and to some extent recovery. While the hype and hoopla of the past years are gone, displays were noticeably bigger and brighter than the past two years. Porsche’s return after a four-year hiatus was seen as a bonus and treat, while Ferrari was not officially present [missing the show for a second consecutive year], but the famous Italian sports car maker exhibited one of its current models with the Chrysler Group’s line-up as a homage to the agreement between Fiat and Chrysler. However, Nissan and Infiniti’s absence since 2009 are still being felt. Of course, as always, some carmakers decided to create some buzz in their own way – either by hosting pre-event shows or a string of timely teasers. Here’s a snapshot of what was on offer. Read on…

 Audi’s R8 GT debuted last spring, but the novelty factor hasn’t worn off. In Detroit, the car was positioned strategically in the Audi booth, gleaming with spotlights and looking better than ever. But the bigger news came when Audi unveiled its 2012 A6, which essentially is the sedan version of the A7 Sportback. As a redesigned model which aims to be a credible competitor to the new BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the new A6 brings some of the design cues seen in the A8 model. It features LED taillamps, an integrated boot-lid spoiler, a dual exhaust system, and optional LED headlights. The optional S-Line package adds modified bumpers, a sport suspension, a faux rear diffuser, and 19in alloy wheels. 

General Motor’s Chevrolet brand had quite an impressive array of models. The 2012 Sonic [renamed Aveo replacement] as we all know was officially unveiled ahead of its debut at the show. This renamed model will be available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Regardless of what body style is selected, both feature an aggressive front fascia, bulging mudguards wheel arches, and an upward sweeping character line. Inside, the cabin boasts a Spark/Beat-inspired cockpit with a two-tone design and class-leading spacious rear seat. 

While GM hasn’t released full details, the car will be available with top line features such as USB/Bluetooth connectivity, remote start, heated front seats and a sunroof. Two engines will be offered – an entry-level 1.8-litre producing 135hp and 168Nm, and a turbocharged 1.4-litre churning out 138hp and 200Nm of torque. Chevrolet also unveiled a new design study based on the Sonic called the Sonic Z-Spec Concept. The eye-catching matte black and orange Chevrolet was kitted with the turbocharged set-up.

 

It may have been a frigid 10° F in Detroit, but BMW Group was surely dressed to impress and it had more than four reasons [world premieres] to appeal to enthusiasts of the blue and white propeller logo  company. Top of the list was the striking-in-metallic-orange hue 2012 1 Series M Coupe, followed by the 1 and 6 Series convertible and 1 Series Coupe. The production-ready BMW 6-Series was showed in convertible form, following on from the 6-Series Coupe Concept displayed last year in Paris. As we expected, the ‘concept’ was a thin disguise for the production version of BMW’s grand tourer. Core design is virtually unchanged, with only minor alterations to grille and headlamp inserts and the addition of towing eye, parking sensor and headlamp washer covers. On the whole the concept remains as impressive as was in Paris – which also marked a thematic design departure for BMW. The production car is expected to hit markets in March with two engines. The 640i will use a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder that produces 320hp and 450Nm of torque, while the 650i will feature a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine with 407hp and 600 Nm of torque. The second car, the 1-Series M Coupe [Automan previewed this car when visiting Ascari last year] has been designed to offer the last word in affordable performance. The 1M features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335hp and 500Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission which allows the 1,495kg car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.9secs. Top speed is electronically-limited to 250km/h

 

A recharged Cadillac unveiled the new CTS-V Racing Coupe specifically designed for the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) World Challenge GT Series. This track car was jointly developed with Pratt & Miller and features a carbon fibre body, ventilation scoops on the bonnet, an aggressive diffuser, and a massive rear wing. While the engine specifications weren’t released, the car will undergo testing at the Sebring International Raceway before making its debut at a World Challenge GT event in March. Cadillac plans to field two teams in the upcoming SCCA World Challenge GT Class with a racecar based on the CTS-V Coupe.

 

Chrysler Group completed its roll out of refreshed models just in time for the North American International Auto Show and its key reveals included facelifted versions of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan and Jeep Compass compact SUV.

Top on the Chrysler agenda has been the 300C which has been now designed to redefine American luxury. The refreshed flagship saloon appeared as menacing as it is elegantly draped in layers of chrome with an exterior is distinguished by a bold grille, LED-infused headlights and sculpted bodywork. A lot of attention has gone inside the car and now it is nicely-equipped with items such as dual-zone automatic climate control, Uconnect Touch, black comodo elm trim, and LED ambient lighting. Chrysler will also offer a premium trim level in the 300 Limited and 300C AWD models, which add Nappa leather upholstery, GPS navigation, olive ash trim, and heated/ventilated seats to the luxurious surroundings. There’s news under the boonet too. Two engines will be available with entry-level models powered by a 292hp 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, while the 300C features a 363hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with sub six second sprint performance.

 

At this year’s show, Ford had more global stuff on its stands for the American masses. The carmaker is returning to the US minivan market and on offer was the all-new Europe Focus based and developed, seven seater C-Max. The C-Max is relatively small compared to Chrysler’s Town & Country, Toyota’s Sienna or Honda’s Odyssey, but despite this apparent shortcoming, Ford is touting the vehicle as sporty new model with first-rate technology and best-in-class fuel efficiency. Engine choices for American buyers will include a base 2.5-litre four-pot and the all-new 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, both mated to Ford’s 6F35 automatic six-speed transmission.The car also has an industry-first feature: a tail gate that opens when the driver waves his or her foot under the back bumper.

And with Ford’s line-up undergoing a major revamp, the current Escape seems to be the odd one out of sync. The current model dates back to 2003 and Ford’s new Vertrek concept SUV seems to preview a “sporty, sleek, fuel-efficient” replacement for the Escape and Kuga. As such, the Vertrek features a Focus-inspired front fascia, a C-MAX derived greenhouse, carbon fibre accents, LED lighting, and massive wheels. Inside, the cabin has the usual futuristic touches, but in a nod to realism and the crossover will come loaded with tech goodies such as SYNC, active park assist, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and Intelligent Access with push-button starting. As part of the downsizing exercise, power will come from either a 1.6-litre four-cylinder with EcoBoost, six-speed automatic transmission with engine start/stop system or 2.0-litre diesel.

Interestingly, Ford also unveiled two new C-MAX hybrids at the show. The first one uses an electric motor and has a 2.0-litre gasoline engine which acts as a generator only. It operates primary in electric mode, but when the battery is depleted (or when certain conditions are met), the vehicle switches to a “charge-sustaining hybrid mode for continued optimal fuel efficiency. The second C-MAX Hybrid drops the plug-in component but keeps the lithium-ion battery, electric motor and Atkinson-cycle engine.

 

After a short lull, the North American International Auto Show at least gave the impression that Honda was back on track with its mainstream bread and butter models. The 2012 Civic embraces the company’s vision as a “Civic for all people,” a phrase originally expressed in defining the goal of the first-generation Civic and both sedan and Si Coupe concepts were definitely the stars of Honda’s Detroit Auto Show stand. While, the two concept models are essentially pre-production studies of the actual ninth-generation Civic that will be introduced to the North American market this year, the Detroit Civics didn’t preview the European versions, essentially the upcoming three- and five-door hatchback variants. Nevertheless, the Sedan and Si Coupe concepts featured steeply raked windscreens, upward sweeping character lines, and 19in alloy wheels. 

Building on its emphasis on fuel-economy, the new Civics will get Honda Eco Assist™ technology, which already available in the CR-Z and Insight hybrids. The 2012 Civic is the first US Honda model to employ Eco Assist technology in a gasoline-only powered vehicle. Under the sloping bonnet, power, according to Honda will be provided by the “widest array of engine choices available in its class.” This means for US, options will include conventional petrol units, a natural gas variant and a hybrid. The latter is slated to adopt the newest Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system which will be powered by a lithium-ion battery - a first for a Honda.

 

Hyundai has kept the pedal to the metal for years now in its bid to become one of the major players in the global economy and, especially, the US market. Hyundai kept the audiences busy with a stunning display of in-car technology [the presentation almost overshadowed Audi’s gig] at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show prior to Detroit.

Meanwhile, at Detroit it seemed that Hyundai is targeting youth with its now famous “Fluidic Sculpture” design language in the Curb Concept car. It’s all very funky and hip and reminds one of Citroen’s psychedelic interior in concept cars. But, Hyundai’s aspiration level gets a bit serious when it decides to contest directly well-ensconced Toyota’s US only brand Scion’s tC [Toyota Zelus in other markets] and models such as the MINI Cooper and Honda CR-Z with a funky, technology-loaded Veloster. The car is unconventional with three-doors and was a clear hit with the audience. The motorcycle inspired Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupe segment with a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display, and a new 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine mated to Hyundai’s first dual-clutch transmission.

 

GM’s truck brand, GMC showcased a truck concept called Sierra All Terrain HD. As a concept it’s an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility. Highlighted by a bold exterior design, enhanced all-terrain suspension and premium details expected of a GMC - all designed to enable greater access to off-road destinations. The production version of theSierra HD underpins the All Terrain HD concept, with a modified, production-based 4WD chassis and the Duramax diesel/Allison 1000 six-speed powertrain. The enhanced suspension and unique body dimensions, including increased ground clearance and wider track, as well as greater approach/departure angles, deliver off-road capability while maintaining HD levels of payload and trailering capacity.

 

A bit of futuristic fantasy and optimism prompted Kia’s California team to come up with a nifty MPV concept. While, Kia Motors’ design-led transformation has delivered eye-catching production vehicles such as the Soul, Sorento and Sportage, the common bit in them all is that they remain faithful to the concept cars that preceded them. The gullwing-door Kia KV7 is a concept on a mission and a vision for a vehicle with the functionality to transport a large number of people, and their belongings, while also serving as a connected social hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers. “From the outset, we felt the category was in need of an honest reassessment due to the fact that everyone seems so desperate to attach the word ‘sporty’ to their MPV even though MPVs, at their very core, are simply a box,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Motors America. The design study is motivated by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that comes on the 2011 Kia Optima, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

 

MINI is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the brand’s revival and re-launch in the US market. And to celebrate the occasion, the automaker unveiled the Paceman Concept, and also confirmed that it will spawn a production model. The crossover will attempt to excite NAIAS crowds, particularly “young, modern, extrovert urbanites” that the company believes is ahead of the pack. The vehicle is basically a two-door Countryman All4 with a tapered roofline and 19in wheels and it uses the 211hp 1.6-litre John Cooper Works turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Power is transferred to the wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive system. The engine cranks out 208hpand up to 260Nm of torque. Those looking for a little extra power will be pleased with the Overboost function that briefly increases maximum torque to 280Nm.

 

Porsche’s return to the Detroit Show after a four year-absence was more than a token gesture. The sportscar maker marked the occasion with the introduction of a new racing concept based on the company’s 918 Spyder from last year’s Geneva Salon. The 918 RSR is a two-seat mid-engined coupe, and according to Porsche, it demonstrates what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car and the design of the 918 Spyder concept are combined together.

The motorsports version of the 918 Spyder concept car gets a V8 engine based on the RS Spyder race car’s 3.4-litre unit tuned to deliver 563hp and is linked to a six-speed racing transmission with shift paddles that feeds the rear wheels. A pair of electrics motors mounted on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW (102 hp), or a total of 204HP, lifting the combined output to 767HP. The German maker notes that the extra power from the electric motors is available for around eight seconds when the system is fully charged.

As with the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car, the additional power from the electric motors, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator. In the 918 RSR study, the two electric motors also offer a torque vectoring function with variable torque distribution to the front axle, which increases agility and improves steering response. The interior of the road-spec 918 Spyder has also been modified and comes with a single figure-hugging bucket seat, while the passenger seat has been replaced by flywheel accumulator.

 

Volkswagen has finally lifted the covers of its New Midsize Sedan [NMS], which will be commercially known as the American Passat. According to the German automaker, the car’s technology and styling came from Germany, while Volkswagen of America provided the conceptual direction. Specifically designed for the US market, it is dimensionally in-between its European namesake and the larger Phaeton. The ‘American Passat’ is 4,868mm long, 1,833mm wide, making the new car 99mm and 13mm larger than its European counterpart, respectively. The four-door sedan’s exterior styling draws its inspiration from the recently launched Jetta, and not from the refreshed, European market, Passat. The base version is driven by a 170hp five-cylinder petrol engine and other engine options include an extremely economical clean diesel and a six-cylinder petrol engine, the VR6 with 280hp when paired with a standard dual clutch transmission (DSG). The alliance of VR6 and DSG makes the Volkswagen Passat a top-flight sports sedan. Buyers in the US will have a choice of three equipment lines: S, SE and SEL. 

 

Along with the new Prius V minivan, the Detroit Show also welcomed the world premiere of the Prius C Concept, which will provide the inspiration for the next Prius Family member that Toyota plans to launch in the first half of next year. Toyota said that the production version of the Prius C will be smaller, more affordable and with even greater fuel efficiency than the regular Prius. According to Toyota’s claims, the Prius C will deliver the highest mpg of any available hybrid model without a plug in North America.