Is it just Hype? See for yourself.

Steve Purdy - Detroit Bureau Chief

Editors Note: What are we crazy or something publishing the highlights of last years Detroit Auto Show, sure we are crazy, but that's another story. I found this wrap-up by our Detroit Bureau Chief kindda fun to look at. It's interesting to note what the car companies thought was important in 2004 and how many "Highlights" are still twinkling in 2005...we are all standing by to read Steve's 2005 Highlight piece...enjoy!

2004 SHOW TRENDS
The most balanced show this reporter can recall. Every genre has new and significant product - both production and concept - making it especially difficult to discern trends and notables. Lots of new sports cars, sport-utility vehicles, sedans, crossovers, all-activity vehicles, pick-up trucks, station wagons (yes, even stations wagons are back), super cars, concept cars . . . and on and on. At NAIAS there is certainly something for everyone.

“YEAR OF THE CAR” Ford’s tag line for the 04 show turned out to be the only real trend anyone could come up with. And, yes, I agree that when compared with shows of the past 10 to 15 years, passenger cars dominated. New bread-and-butter sedans for all three auto makers make up for some neglect of that genre in the past. Chrysler 300 and 300C with rear wheel drive and 4-wheel drive optional. Ford 500, replacement for the aging Taurus also available with 4-wheel drive. Chevy Cobalt replacing the Cavalier and Pontiac G-6 replacing the Sunfire – both moving somewhat upscale with much improved trim and quality levels. Even Kia has a luxury sedan.

PLENTY OF HYBRIDS A secondary trend vividly presenting itself was the presence of hybrid vehicles, both concept and production. We are quickly moving into a period where hybrids are becoming mainstream. All the major players are contending but Toyota has the distinct advantage.

BEST OF SHOW BY CATEGORY

MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTION CAR – FORD MUSTANG – Historically Ford’s longest running model this major redesign is spot on and a shoe-in to sell 100,000 units a year for years to come. The message on its license plate kept changing day by day: “Made in Detroit To Burn Rubber” “Made in Detroit Out Of American Steel” “Made in Detroit, As God Intended”

MOST EXCITING (HEART-POUNDING) CONCEPT CAR – CHRYSLER ME 412 – The moniker stands for “Mid-Engine, 4-Turbochargers, 12-Cylinders”. Chrysler’s engineers calculate a top speed of 242 mph, will begin testing this spring and be ready for media testing this summer. Bold, brash, sharply angular, fresh styling and design took us all by surprise. It could reach production as the fastest road car on the planet.

BEST CONCEPT TRUCK – TOYOTA HPX (HYBRID) – Its designer described the styling theme as depicting a big fist (front of the truck) with a muscular arm behind: a huge, 4-door, hybrid V-8 pickup with 37” wheels and cartoonesque dimensions. It previews the styling trend that will influence the next generation of Toyota trucks.

MOST NOTABLE HYBRID – LEXUS RX 4OO H – Most notable because the RX 400H is the first luxury hybrid signaling that the hybrid, “bridging” technology is becoming mainstream. It’s based on Lexus’ popular RX330 crossover SUV, which in its first iteration essentially pioneered the genre, that is, a sport utility vehicle on a car platform.

MOST SENSUOUS – MASERATI QUATROPORTE – Picking up where the Bentley Continental left off last year the Maserati’s Italian style and luxurious format is most likely to inspire lust in those of us who see automobiles as sensuous machinery.

BEST DISPLAY – JEEP – The folks at Jeep took a spectacular 30-foot-high waterfall that makes designs and words out of the falling water and built a lovely little park-in-the-city scene around it. Deep green ‘shag’ grass sets off building facades surrounding the park and a Jeep CJ is attached vertically about 20 feet above the floor to a rock wall.

MOST FUN (DISPLAY AND CAR) – MINI – MINI still has the most fun display by far, even though nearly the smallest. Pin-ball, punching bag game, dance-and-drive, great video clips, animation and other eye candy make this a display not to miss.

BEST PAINT JOB – MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE “CONCEPT E” HYBRID – The color is called “Glowing Header Orange”. David O’Connell, chief engineer, explains it’s the color your headers might turn just before they melt. It’s intended to suggest the pulsing power of the hybrid system within this sports car concept. Quite effective.

MOST ANACHRONISTIC – MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS – After and exhaustive search this is one of the only members of its species left, ie, big, body-on-frame, rear-wheel-drive, V-8 powered, full-size sedan. The platform probably dates back to the 50s and this generation goes back 25 years, at least. I may have to give up on this category next year. The Ford Crown Victoria shares the platform and may soon be made only for fleet use if rumor is accurate. MOST NOTABLE AND CHARISMATIC EXEC – DIETER ZETSCHE, Chrysler Boss – Who in a video for media consumption last month carried a load of 7-year-old ballerinas in the back of his minivan: “Hello girls,” he says, looking over his shoulder. “Hello Dieter,” they chant back in unison. A few weeks later he cavorts with a bevy of beautiful, scantily-clad, New York Dancers in little black dresses on stage at the auto show in praise of the same mini-van. Dieter also tends bar like a pro at the Firehouse, Chrysler’s across-the-street media hospitality pub.

BEST MEDIA HOSPITALITY – CHRYSLER – The old downtown Detroit Firehouse across from Cobo Center is turned into a hospitable pub every year by the Chrysler folks. Fire trucks and equipment are moved out and the open space is turned into a bar, restaurant, nightclub, with separate rooms for a cigar bar and a martini bar. Exceptional food and drink is served by Chrysler execs and other notable folks. I was waited on by Miss Michigan on Tuesday evening.

BEST BREAD-AND-BUTTER CAR – CHRYSLER 300C HEMI – Speaking of rear-wheel-drive, V-8 powered, full-size sedans, here’s a new one, ready to start a new cycle, and available with 4-wheel-drive. This one looks like a big winner for DCX.

BEST OF SHOW! . . MONEY IS NO OBJECT!. . . MERCEDES SLR MCLAREN – All I can say is WOW! This is the most sophisticated, technology-intensive, sleek, super sports car available today – bar none. I didn’t catch its sticker price but the first one produced sold at a charity auction last fall for $2.1 million.

DON’T MISS – FOR GEAR HEADS THE PARTS AND TUNER STUFF DOWNSTAIRS IN THE MICHIGAN HALL AND, FOR THOSE WHO APPRECIATE THE AUTOMOBILE AS AN ART FORM, DON’T MISS ‘LUXURY ROW” ACROSS FROM TOYOTA WHERE MAYBACH, BENTLY, FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, MASERATI, AND ROLLS ROYCE SHOW THEIR STUFF.

The North American International Auto Show is universally recognized as one of the three or four most significant motor shows in the world. “NAIAS might now be the most important show in the world.” Argues friend and colleague Csaba Csere (pronounced chubba chedda), editor of CAR AND DRIVER magazine.