Detroit Auto Show Reflections - More Questions Then Answers!

January 8, 2002, As today’s sunlight fades into a Detroit winter dusk the memories of new bright sparkling cars and trucks will forever linger in my memory.

Well another press preview of the NIAIS or Detroit Dealers car show will soon be history.

The press corps are bailing out and the car company reps are preparing for what will seem like a month of questions, comments, and lollypop sticky fingers messing up the suede upholstery.

After 3 intensive days of looking at great cars (hey someone has to do it) some questions remain unanswered…

How will the public react to this years show, and will they really be moved to part with their hard earned cash to replace a perfectly functional car with a new model?

Is the day of the SUV over and the rebirth of the station wagon as a Sport Tourer at hand?

Will Tourer or a derivative description become the next big Buzz?

Will buyers from the middle of the country want to buy cars designed for a Mojave Desert weekend?

Will Porsche ever build their SUV and if they do, will it be too late for the buyers to care?

Will there be a movement to Retro-executive the (other then GM) car companies with car guys instead of 11-year-old soap and cereal guys?

If the above happens will another California industry segment (Car Design Studios) go away?

What will the next big thing really be?

Will the Koreans continue to take market share with “Nice Cheap Cars” that really work?

And if the above continues to happen, will we see the foreign owners of those companies raise prices to make their own core products sell better?

How many more SUV’s will Toyota and Lexus add to their lines (So far 5 and 3 respectively)

Will the Chevy Belair really be built (I hope it will).

Where will Car Guy Bob Eaton land?

Will the cost of gasoline stay low?

Will new manufacturing technologies allow the car companies to build lots of short run models each year?

Will Ford build the GT40 (Sexy Car-Sexy Display-Great Looking Girls…and a live DJ spinning Vinyl for ambiance) and if they do will anyone care? Don’t forget to support Carroll Shelby’s Kids Charity!

Will the Mini become a Maxy in sales?

Will Maserati sales match its hot looks and performance?

Will I be able to afford a Lamborghini Murcielago, and will I be able to pronounce it? (I hope so on both counts)

Which of the great Concept and Alternative Fueled cars from Chrysler and GM and Ford and Acura and BMW and Saab and VW and Audi and MB and Mitsubishi and Isuzu and Toyota and Nissan and Honda and Infiniti and Subaru and Kia and Suzuki and Jaguar et al, will ever see the light of day, or the inside of a garage?

Stay Tuned to The Auto Channel To find Out.

Bob Gordon Co-Publisher and Eternal Optimist