ON THE TABLE
Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 07:15PM January 11, 2012
Audi. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Audi has it knocked. Four years ago, Audi transformed its auto show stands at shows around the world with its all-white look. Guess what? At Cobo Hall the "white" look was everywhere.
Lincoln. Speaking of impressive show stands, the all-new Lincoln exhibit is everything a luxury brand should be about, and more. Visually arresting, it fits with where Lincoln wants to go and needs to go as a brand. And most important, it's distinctive from the competing existing luxury brands as well.
Fiat. The residue of the brand launch that Sergio "The Exalted One" Marchionne personally screwed-up was glaringly evident in Detroit. Oh, the Fiat 500 had a display alright, but nobody cared. It was just a couple of notches above Coda on the interest scale. And interest in Coda was less than zero. Not good.
GM. The RenCen crew is in desperate need of an auto show re-think. Their attempt at creating visual distinctions between its four divisions doesn't really work, and the overall feeling was one of not ready for prime time. GM has plenty of excellent products to talk about and display properly. They better figure out how to showcase their stuff. And in a hurry.
Bentley. When we go to an auto show we have to immerse ourselves in the industry minutiae of it all. That's expected. But we also enjoy soaking it all in and enjoying the good stuff just for the hell of it. And the Silvery Blue Metallic Bentley Mulsanne with the Cream leather and Dark Blue interior accents - with blonde wood no less - was definitely part of the good stuff.
Maserati. The Kubang is an abomination. And they'll probably sell the shit out of 'em somewhere in the world. But not here.
The AE Babeometer. Our unofficial barometer of how good the mood is at an auto show and how good things are for the auto companies is our Babeometer, which evaluates the number and quality of the young ladies adding color to the various show stands. If this year's Detroit Auto Show is any indication, the future of the auto industry is looking up, especially for Lincoln, whose collection of product "representatives" was so stunning as a group that they stopped people in their tracks. As in smokin' h-o-t. No, it wasn't the Paris Auto Show by any means but it was pretty damn impressive nonetheless.
(GM)
Chevrolet has announced the 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition, calling it "the fastest, most capable convertible in Corvette’s history" and has confirmed that the 2013 model will be the final edition of the sixth-generation Corvette. The Corvette 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models, according to Chevrolet. It is powered by the famed 427-cubic-inch (7.0L) LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06. With 505 horsepower (377 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm), it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Corvette convertible. It will – thank goodness - only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox. Other good stuff? It comes with the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. The standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels are wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires. Lightweight machine-face Cup wheels – introduced on the 2012 Corvette Z06 with Z07 and Corvette ZR1 with PDE performance packages – come standard and include unique gray-painted pockets. Black Cup wheels or chrome ZR1-style wheels are also available. And there's more, much more. All 2013 Corvette models, including the 427 Convertible, will be available with a 60th Anniversary Package, featuring an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents. Convertible models will have a blue top. The 60th Anniversary Package and 427 Convertible will make their public debut at the Barrett Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan 21, and will arrive at U.S. Chevrolet dealers in early summer.
(Audi)
Audi introduced a themed vehicle on Monday - the Audi Q3 Vail. Named after the famous winter sports venue, the Q3 Vail is a compact SUV that boasts a 314-hp 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine. It is painted in Energy Red - a color developed exclusively for it, while the interior is done in black, gray and red. Among the many features for winter sports fans are a charging station in the side wall of the trunk, a Thermos bottle in the front cupholder that can chill or warm drinks, and a trunk mat with integrated heated seat cushions, which can be laid over the loading lip and offers a warm area to sit on when putting on or taking off your ski boots.
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