Notes from the Los Angeles Auto Show, Part 1:
11-20-2008, 08:07 PM
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Notes from the Los Angeles Auto Show, Part 1:
Been here at the press preview for the past day and a half (got here late yesterday). Very good show, and perhaps more new model introductions and concepts than LA has seen in some time.
What was really telling about this auto show was understandably the overheard talk and mood of many people attached to verious US makers. It was also shown in their displays.
Chrysler has long been a leader in displays. This year, it was decidedly low key. One would think that Chrysler was a up & coming car maker. The good thing was they had their EV sports car. They also had not 1,2,or 3 Challengers on site. They had 4. Also at least 3 new Rams.
GM didn't too too bad by comparison. They had 2 Camaros there. The silver V8 SS (which I have underhood photos of) and the purely evil looking Camaro "Black" from SEMA. Note to Chevrolet: Get rid of the production SS interior as quick as possible and use the version in the "Black" car. Also at Chevy was the ZR1 & Volt. At the other divisions, they had the Riviera, the G8 ST, the CTSv, & a Saab open top concept.
But if you were looking for a display that was a showstopper, it was no contest. Ford had it hands down. They took up a whole side of the hall they were in. On one side was the "Flex" area. The center was devoted to the new Fusion. The other end had not 1,2,or 3 new Mustangs, but at least 6. But the looks of their display, you'd surmise that there was nothing wrong at Ford, and they were taking control of the market.
The only other display that came anywhere near Ford's was Audi. Bright harsh lights, and ever car on the floor was white.
The most hospitable display was Ferrari. Complete with champaign (or bottled water) and a nice little area to sit & enjoy. If you had a card, they gave away these very impressive hardback books on the Ferrari California.
I lingered around after the show closed at the LA times area (more free beverages... I had bottled water this time... with my Heineken). It's times like these that one can really guage what's going on in the industry since many company people wind up there along with a few of us press stragglers. many intresting things came up.
First, GM is a topic of conversation. No fewer than 3 conversations about GM going out of business. One involved a person from GM who seemed resigned to what was happening. At least 1 guy (from Honda) made a joke about his friend there from GM putting in to work at his job before everyone else did.
Another involved "spy phography". It involved one person who went into detail about how it's no longer the way we tend to think of it outdoors. Intrestingly, also in the conversation was a person who did design at a automobile company (don't ask). First, many of todays "spy pics" are done the same way as many of today's brochures are done: CGI with background photography. Seems todays automakers have gotten away from prototypes unless it's to test cooling and components. By then, the car's about a year or less away from production. Many times a car maker sends a CAD scan to a CGI specialist who creates a car image, which is placed on a background and a finisher comes in and gives it life (by taking adding inperfections).
Each year, some theme stands out that gets attention. Some years ago it was headlights which were starting to get very detailed and sculptured. Another year it was the chisled look which seemed to be spreading to many cars. This year it was for me interiors. Interiors are the new battle ground, and IMO, there are some winners, some losers, and some that you have to ask why do they bother.
I'll post some on that next time.
What was really telling about this auto show was understandably the overheard talk and mood of many people attached to verious US makers. It was also shown in their displays.
Chrysler has long been a leader in displays. This year, it was decidedly low key. One would think that Chrysler was a up & coming car maker. The good thing was they had their EV sports car. They also had not 1,2,or 3 Challengers on site. They had 4. Also at least 3 new Rams.
GM didn't too too bad by comparison. They had 2 Camaros there. The silver V8 SS (which I have underhood photos of) and the purely evil looking Camaro "Black" from SEMA. Note to Chevrolet: Get rid of the production SS interior as quick as possible and use the version in the "Black" car. Also at Chevy was the ZR1 & Volt. At the other divisions, they had the Riviera, the G8 ST, the CTSv, & a Saab open top concept.
But if you were looking for a display that was a showstopper, it was no contest. Ford had it hands down. They took up a whole side of the hall they were in. On one side was the "Flex" area. The center was devoted to the new Fusion. The other end had not 1,2,or 3 new Mustangs, but at least 6. But the looks of their display, you'd surmise that there was nothing wrong at Ford, and they were taking control of the market.
The only other display that came anywhere near Ford's was Audi. Bright harsh lights, and ever car on the floor was white.
The most hospitable display was Ferrari. Complete with champaign (or bottled water) and a nice little area to sit & enjoy. If you had a card, they gave away these very impressive hardback books on the Ferrari California.
I lingered around after the show closed at the LA times area (more free beverages... I had bottled water this time... with my Heineken). It's times like these that one can really guage what's going on in the industry since many company people wind up there along with a few of us press stragglers. many intresting things came up.
First, GM is a topic of conversation. No fewer than 3 conversations about GM going out of business. One involved a person from GM who seemed resigned to what was happening. At least 1 guy (from Honda) made a joke about his friend there from GM putting in to work at his job before everyone else did.
Another involved "spy phography". It involved one person who went into detail about how it's no longer the way we tend to think of it outdoors. Intrestingly, also in the conversation was a person who did design at a automobile company (don't ask). First, many of todays "spy pics" are done the same way as many of today's brochures are done: CGI with background photography. Seems todays automakers have gotten away from prototypes unless it's to test cooling and components. By then, the car's about a year or less away from production. Many times a car maker sends a CAD scan to a CGI specialist who creates a car image, which is placed on a background and a finisher comes in and gives it life (by taking adding inperfections).
Each year, some theme stands out that gets attention. Some years ago it was headlights which were starting to get very detailed and sculptured. Another year it was the chisled look which seemed to be spreading to many cars. This year it was for me interiors. Interiors are the new battle ground, and IMO, there are some winners, some losers, and some that you have to ask why do they bother.
I'll post some on that next time.
11-20-2008, 08:20 PM
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they only have 2 camaros? you have to be kidding. im guessing you cant go in the black one so that leaves millions of people to want to get into one camaro (if u even can). really? i was hoping for at least 3 or 4 you could sit in.
11-20-2008, 10:23 PM
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You can't sit in either one. They're side by side in a display. These are not production cars yet.
11-21-2008, 08:14 AM
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11-21-2008, 02:46 PM
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Damn......did you start working for Ford or something.....here lately all its been is Ford this, Ford that. 
Did the Silver SS have the orange accent interior? Its probably the same one we saw at Indy.
Did the Silver SS have the orange accent interior? Its probably the same one we saw at Indy.
11-21-2008, 03:57 PM
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A little of the lunge has crept in!
11-22-2008, 04:48 AM
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Replied.
I was lucky enough to be allowed up on the platform to get a close look at both cars. The doors were open for me, the hood was opened for me, but I wasn't allowed to sit inside. Keep in mind these the "Black" is a one-of-a-kind car. Imagine if hundreds of press, aftermarket people, suppliers, and those from other companies looking at the competition all slid in and out of that interior. It wouldn't take long for that interior to look like crap. The 2nd day I went there, there was a maintence guy gluing a **** back on a Corvette that had broken off. At another display, someone was replacing a part of a broken dashboard.
Unless something is production and can easily be fixed or replaced overnight if broken, who has access to it is going to be tightly controlled.
Take it from someone who was at the concept's unveiling. The production Camaro simply blows away the concept version. The production version has alot of small details that the concept didn't have, and it all not just gives the car depth that you won't see on the concept, but gives it life.
The production Camaro makes the concept look like more of a cartoon.
Unless something is production and can easily be fixed or replaced overnight if broken, who has access to it is going to be tightly controlled.
The production Camaro makes the concept look like more of a cartoon.
Last edited by guionM; 11-23-2008 at 02:32 AM.
11-22-2008, 04:53 AM
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Oh...yes!!!! Plenty.
The auto show isn't going to change that much. I'll write about this in part 2 (which will be on the future vehicles section), but Ford's new cars simply have the best interiors. I'll go into detail in that post, but Mustang's interior is cured of all cheapness (the whole frigging dash is soft now save for the glovebox and the standard shiny fake metal dash trim and the area around the HVAC controls. But Mustang is nothing next to the new Fusion interior.... even the console has a soft rubberized feel instead of hard cheap plastic.! 