Ray
01-19-2003, 09:37 PM
PG auto writer Don Hammonds and friends rank the best -- and worst -- of this year's big car show in Detroit
By Donald I. Hammonds, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
You either have it or you don't.
That sums it up when you're talking about new cars and trucks in today's hot market.
This year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit was filled to the brim with new products.
So what worked? What didn't?
This year, I decided to take a look at things with fresh eyes -- two additional sets, in fact. My annual pilgrimage to the Motor City included Matt Beale, president of Daedalus Excel, a Pittsburgh-based product development firm. He has training in automotive styling from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
I also took Ricardo Cortes, an Edgewood resident and car enthusiast whose comments have appeared in our car reviews from time to time.
The first comments you'll see below for each vehicle will be mine, followed by those of my fellow show-goers.
Here's what we thought:
Acura TSX
Acura is positioning this one as an entry-level performance sedan between the RSX and the 3.2 TL. It has 200 horsepower, a six-speed manual and the usual array of performance and luxury equipment.
I was let down by what I saw. Honda/Acura's old bugaboo -- too much conservatism and a lack of excitement in design -- is evident in the TSX.
The TSX will compete in a very crowded field inhabited by the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35, Lexus IS-300 and others.
I'm not sure how it will fare, given that it's a dead ringer for a Honda Accord. Moreover, 200 horsepower sounds pretty paltry compared with the competition -- Infiniti's G35 with either 260 or 280 horses, and Cadillac CTS with 220.
Pontiac G6
Pontiac's team tells me this one is an awful lot like the upcoming Grand Am replacement and if that's true, bring it on.
It has coupe styling of a four-door sedan body, with a look that says performance and handling, altogether appropriate for General Motors' performance division. I also liked the cool blue and maroon interior.
Power comes from a supercharged, 285-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. But the back seat is awfully uncomfortable.
Saturn Ion
Saturn's replacement for the S series looks like a mishmash of various styling elements that simply don't work. The interior materials look really cheap -- plasticky, plasticky, plasticky.
Nothing's wrong with plastic, but you can do a lot with textures and finishes, and Saturn missed the mark here. I know GM can do better -- witness the finishes and textures in the Cadillac CTS and even some of GM's lower line products.
Matt: "There are just too many details on the Ion. There are contrasting colors with the roof, creases in doors that line up with nothing -- just too many small ideas that clash with one another."
Ricardo: "I especially don't like the two colors around the roof line. It looks like the car has been repainted, and big gaps make the car look unfinished."
Cadillac Sixteen
This is one magnificent piece of automotive design. It really has managed to capture the feel and look of the old '30s 16-cylinder classics, with the long hood, huge wheels and impressive interior. Better still, it's designed to be enjoyed by a driver, not a chauffeur.
Cadillac officials feel that, although there are no plans now to produce it, chances are excellent that market pressure from the Maybach, Bentley and Rolls Royce super luxury models will force them to make it at some point.
Matt: "The Sixteen has a long hood and an absolutely beautiful proportion. For now it is just a concept, but even if it's built it will be pure fantasy. It's the hands-down style champion. Cadillac's art-and-science look has always been a love-it-or-hate-it look, but this softened version is beautiful and stunning. You may hate the idea of such a large, expensive and overpowered luxury car, but you have to admit it's beautiful."
Nissan Maxima
While I commend Nissan on continuing to push the styling envelope -- I wish more companies would -- I have a mixed reaction to the Maxima.
It has many of the styling cues of old models, but the end effect of this new Maxima looks a bit too much like a slightly bloated Altima. It has a similar roof line, same shape grille and even a rear that looks something like the Altima.
It would have been nice to see them go in a different, contrasting direction instead of making the Maxima look like a bigger version of its better-looking, successful little brother.
Matt: "I don't know what the grille's doing. That centerpiece reminds me of belts that people wore back in the 1970s. Overall, it's a big improvement over the current Maxima, but the Altima is much prettier."
Mercury Messenger
Clearly, if the Mercury brand is going to succeed, it's going to have to stand on its own and not rely on just gussying up existing Ford products.
Fortunately, Ford Motor Co. officials are showing signs that they know that. Exhibit A is the stunning Mercury Messenger, which combines sleek styling, a sense of luxury that recalls the heyday of the Cougar and such styling cues as triangular shapes in the rear that rekindle memories -- at least to my mind -- of the '57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser.
In my view Ford would be out of its mind not to produce it. There's nothing like it anywhere else.
Nissan Quest
I loved it. Pure and simple. I'd buy it in a flash. It's zoomy, innovative inside, lots of family pleasing gimmicks ... what more could you want?
Ricardo: "The horizontal surface of the center console looks like it would be a terrific dust catcher. But the idea of a double TV screen system is terrific and what I really love are the horizontal sunroofs (skylights)."
Volkswagen Touareg
VW's new SUV is suave and sophisticated, but I'm told it's a holy terror on the off-road circuit, beating just about everybody in its price class. Speaking of which, is anybody ready to pay as much as $50,000 for a VW SUV? I'm betting so. It's got all the pieces. It also has a classy, leather-laden, chrome and aluminum adorned interior.
Ricardo: "This is the one wagon that stood out. It's truly a do-it-all vehicle and the amazing part is that it does it all well. It's beautiful, practical, safe, powerful, fast refined."
Mazda RX-8
I once owned an RX-7 and the RX-8 brought back lovely memories. It has a similar sporty profile, low-slung hood and the right price -- they will start at just under $26,000.
It literally looks like a four-door sports car and it should have the field all to itself for a while. The Renesis engine -- that's the name given to Mazda's Wankel rotary engine -- provides sparkling performance according to all the road tests I've seen.
Matt: "I think the RX-8 represents a smart risk on Mazda's part. In spite of the back seat and four door, this car really does feel like a sports far from the front seat -- not a sports sedan or sport truck, but a real sports car. And the short rear suicide door makes for a back seat that is actually useful in a pinch."
Ricardo: "The RX-8 is a real world sports car with actual room for four and their luggage, and it also offers easy access to the back seat. And it's also beautiful."
Best of Show
The new Chrysler Crossfire gets my vote. The exterior design is daring, rugged-looking yet sophisticated, and the use of colors and materials inside is terrific. I'm also expecting strong road performance from it and I can't wait to get behind the wheel.
Matt: "The Infiniti FX35 and FX45 sport utilities get my vote. These are refined vehicles that don't try to look tough and macho -- vehicles that aren't ashamed to admit they may never be used off-road. The interior and exterior are beautiful with colors and materials that suggest finely tailored clothing, not mere metal and plastic."
Ricardo: "The best in show was the Mini from BMW. The Mini is simply adorable and beautiful. It makes you feel like you want to give it a hug. And it's also practical and fuel efficient. Maybe it's a message to the car industry that the excesses of the '90s are now past and times are calling for smaller, more sensible cars."
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By Donald I. Hammonds, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
You either have it or you don't.
That sums it up when you're talking about new cars and trucks in today's hot market.
This year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit was filled to the brim with new products.
So what worked? What didn't?
This year, I decided to take a look at things with fresh eyes -- two additional sets, in fact. My annual pilgrimage to the Motor City included Matt Beale, president of Daedalus Excel, a Pittsburgh-based product development firm. He has training in automotive styling from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
I also took Ricardo Cortes, an Edgewood resident and car enthusiast whose comments have appeared in our car reviews from time to time.
The first comments you'll see below for each vehicle will be mine, followed by those of my fellow show-goers.
Here's what we thought:
Acura TSX
Acura is positioning this one as an entry-level performance sedan between the RSX and the 3.2 TL. It has 200 horsepower, a six-speed manual and the usual array of performance and luxury equipment.
I was let down by what I saw. Honda/Acura's old bugaboo -- too much conservatism and a lack of excitement in design -- is evident in the TSX.
The TSX will compete in a very crowded field inhabited by the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35, Lexus IS-300 and others.
I'm not sure how it will fare, given that it's a dead ringer for a Honda Accord. Moreover, 200 horsepower sounds pretty paltry compared with the competition -- Infiniti's G35 with either 260 or 280 horses, and Cadillac CTS with 220.
Pontiac G6
Pontiac's team tells me this one is an awful lot like the upcoming Grand Am replacement and if that's true, bring it on.
It has coupe styling of a four-door sedan body, with a look that says performance and handling, altogether appropriate for General Motors' performance division. I also liked the cool blue and maroon interior.
Power comes from a supercharged, 285-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. But the back seat is awfully uncomfortable.
Saturn Ion
Saturn's replacement for the S series looks like a mishmash of various styling elements that simply don't work. The interior materials look really cheap -- plasticky, plasticky, plasticky.
Nothing's wrong with plastic, but you can do a lot with textures and finishes, and Saturn missed the mark here. I know GM can do better -- witness the finishes and textures in the Cadillac CTS and even some of GM's lower line products.
Matt: "There are just too many details on the Ion. There are contrasting colors with the roof, creases in doors that line up with nothing -- just too many small ideas that clash with one another."
Ricardo: "I especially don't like the two colors around the roof line. It looks like the car has been repainted, and big gaps make the car look unfinished."
Cadillac Sixteen
This is one magnificent piece of automotive design. It really has managed to capture the feel and look of the old '30s 16-cylinder classics, with the long hood, huge wheels and impressive interior. Better still, it's designed to be enjoyed by a driver, not a chauffeur.
Cadillac officials feel that, although there are no plans now to produce it, chances are excellent that market pressure from the Maybach, Bentley and Rolls Royce super luxury models will force them to make it at some point.
Matt: "The Sixteen has a long hood and an absolutely beautiful proportion. For now it is just a concept, but even if it's built it will be pure fantasy. It's the hands-down style champion. Cadillac's art-and-science look has always been a love-it-or-hate-it look, but this softened version is beautiful and stunning. You may hate the idea of such a large, expensive and overpowered luxury car, but you have to admit it's beautiful."
Nissan Maxima
While I commend Nissan on continuing to push the styling envelope -- I wish more companies would -- I have a mixed reaction to the Maxima.
It has many of the styling cues of old models, but the end effect of this new Maxima looks a bit too much like a slightly bloated Altima. It has a similar roof line, same shape grille and even a rear that looks something like the Altima.
It would have been nice to see them go in a different, contrasting direction instead of making the Maxima look like a bigger version of its better-looking, successful little brother.
Matt: "I don't know what the grille's doing. That centerpiece reminds me of belts that people wore back in the 1970s. Overall, it's a big improvement over the current Maxima, but the Altima is much prettier."
Mercury Messenger
Clearly, if the Mercury brand is going to succeed, it's going to have to stand on its own and not rely on just gussying up existing Ford products.
Fortunately, Ford Motor Co. officials are showing signs that they know that. Exhibit A is the stunning Mercury Messenger, which combines sleek styling, a sense of luxury that recalls the heyday of the Cougar and such styling cues as triangular shapes in the rear that rekindle memories -- at least to my mind -- of the '57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser.
In my view Ford would be out of its mind not to produce it. There's nothing like it anywhere else.
Nissan Quest
I loved it. Pure and simple. I'd buy it in a flash. It's zoomy, innovative inside, lots of family pleasing gimmicks ... what more could you want?
Ricardo: "The horizontal surface of the center console looks like it would be a terrific dust catcher. But the idea of a double TV screen system is terrific and what I really love are the horizontal sunroofs (skylights)."
Volkswagen Touareg
VW's new SUV is suave and sophisticated, but I'm told it's a holy terror on the off-road circuit, beating just about everybody in its price class. Speaking of which, is anybody ready to pay as much as $50,000 for a VW SUV? I'm betting so. It's got all the pieces. It also has a classy, leather-laden, chrome and aluminum adorned interior.
Ricardo: "This is the one wagon that stood out. It's truly a do-it-all vehicle and the amazing part is that it does it all well. It's beautiful, practical, safe, powerful, fast refined."
Mazda RX-8
I once owned an RX-7 and the RX-8 brought back lovely memories. It has a similar sporty profile, low-slung hood and the right price -- they will start at just under $26,000.
It literally looks like a four-door sports car and it should have the field all to itself for a while. The Renesis engine -- that's the name given to Mazda's Wankel rotary engine -- provides sparkling performance according to all the road tests I've seen.
Matt: "I think the RX-8 represents a smart risk on Mazda's part. In spite of the back seat and four door, this car really does feel like a sports far from the front seat -- not a sports sedan or sport truck, but a real sports car. And the short rear suicide door makes for a back seat that is actually useful in a pinch."
Ricardo: "The RX-8 is a real world sports car with actual room for four and their luggage, and it also offers easy access to the back seat. And it's also beautiful."
Best of Show
The new Chrysler Crossfire gets my vote. The exterior design is daring, rugged-looking yet sophisticated, and the use of colors and materials inside is terrific. I'm also expecting strong road performance from it and I can't wait to get behind the wheel.
Matt: "The Infiniti FX35 and FX45 sport utilities get my vote. These are refined vehicles that don't try to look tough and macho -- vehicles that aren't ashamed to admit they may never be used off-road. The interior and exterior are beautiful with colors and materials that suggest finely tailored clothing, not mere metal and plastic."
Ricardo: "The best in show was the Mini from BMW. The Mini is simply adorable and beautiful. It makes you feel like you want to give it a hug. And it's also practical and fuel efficient. Maybe it's a message to the car industry that the excesses of the '90s are now past and times are calling for smaller, more sensible cars."
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