The overall mood at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show was one of guarded optimism mixed with general panic. As a regular attendee at these events, I have rarely witnessed such a dramatic dissimilarity based on where you found yourself standing on the show floor. Auto shows are typically filled with a sense of wonderment and suspense and this year’s L.A. Auto Show was no exception.
It may seem strange to hear, but several automotive companies are excited by the future and what lies ahead in 2009. Mazda is a prime example of this, as both the media and crowds responded eagerly to the 2010 Mazda3. At Nissan and Infiniti, it was equally impossible to sense a slowdown in the market with interest running high for the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 Convertible.
At the other end of the scale, media attention and passion for product was nowhere to be seen or heard at either General Motors or Chrysler. These are hard days for the Detroit Big 3 and their prospect for long-term success is uncertain at best. Even a highly touted future vehicle such as the Chevrolet Volt drew mostly “I’ll believe it, when I see it” comments from passersby.
So what are the hottest trends going forward in automobile design as we enter 2009? Here are several we discovered walking the brightly lit hallways at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Fuel Economy is Still King!
The aforementioned fuel-sipping Mazda3 was just one of several new small vehicles to make waves at the show. My first view of the Honda Insight Hybrid Concept came earlier in the year at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, but this important vehicle made its smashing North American debut in Los Angeles.
Similar in appearance to the Toyota Prius, Honda looks to re-introduce the Insight Hybrid name and take it in an entirely new direction. Of course, you may remember the original Insight was the first hybrid model to reach the market way back in 1999. But as a two-door, radical looking coupe, it achieved only marginal success in the previous millennium.
The new Insight offers 5-door accessibility, significant passenger room, better-than-average storage and classic Honda touches throughout. Folding rear seats add fuel to the argument why this is likely to be one of the most eagerly sought vehicles of 2009. Sales commence on April 22, (Earth Day) with a base price expected of $19,000. Honda targets the new Insight to be the most affordable hybrid in the market.
Diesel automobiles of various sizes and price ranges were also making waves in L.A. It seems long overdue attention is finally being given to alternative engine propulsion other than hybrid. European drivers have been taking advantage of diesel engines for decades. But it is only in the past few years’ automakers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have piqued the interest of North Americans to the point we can no longer ignore the obvious. Diesel is in!
Hyundai Motor Co. showcased the new R-Diesel engines capable of taking on the very best from Europe. Two designs define their initial offerings. A strong 2.0L engine produces an estimated 181 horsepower while an even more potent 2.2L version offers 197 hp. Hyundai also disclosed their intention to be the most fuel efficient automaker on the planet by 2015, aiming for a product line average of 35 mpg.
Electric automobiles turning heads included the Mini E, discussed previously in part two of our L.A. Auto Show coverage, and the 2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the i MiEV is capable of driving 100 miles between charges. Though not expected to arrive in North America in the near future, Mitsubishi’s goal was to gain feedback for future product development.
Driving Fast Through Uncertain Times
There is no better way to get rid of the blahs, than to buckle up behind the wheel of a sports car and let the miles fly by. Porsche, Infiniti, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and others know this, so they introduced several new sporty vehicles at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show.
Porsche jumped to the head-of-the-class with the unveiling of not one, but two new coupes. Exterior changes are minimal for the new Boxster and Cayman as both vehicles maintain the sleek, rounded profile defining the Porsche brand. Under the hood, the standard 2.9L water-cooled flat six produces 255 hp for the Boxster and 263 in the Cayman. Additional power comes in the form of a 3.4L 6-cylinder challenging driver nerve with 310 hp in the Boxster S and 320 hp in the Cayman S.
Mated to an all-new PDK 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, shifts are faster, smoother while a weight loss of 30 lbs. improves already top-of-the-class performance.
Ferrari chose the confines of the L.A. Auto Show to showcase their new California coupe with removable hardtop. Mercedes-Benz nearly trumped all with the introduction of the SL65 AMG Black Series. Limited to 150 cars for the U.S., it features a 6.0L V12 Bi-turbo producing 670 hp and a retail price of $295,000. As is always the case with a unique vehicle such as this, a sellout is guaranteed.
Additional fast car introductions included the 2010 Ford Mustang, Audi S4, Lotus Evora and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder.
Conclusion
The 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show was another rousing success as we enter the 2009 auto show season. What lies ahead for the auto industry in the next year is uncertain, but one thing remains constant; the need for new and improved automobiles. In L.A., we saw firsthand the future is exciting. Our next stop on the auto show circuit is at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in early January. It promises to be an equally revealing event and we’ll be there front row and center.
No comments:
Post a Comment