So February is here, NAIAS is in the books, and we have 7 more months to see what 2008 models will start looking like on the lots.

Looking back, were any of you guys in this forum kinda disappointed in the NAIAS this year?

Personally, it was a big "BLAH" for me compared to the last 4 or 5 years.
There just didn't seem to be the excitement or eye-popping displays of late.

I guess I am most "excited" (lacking a better word actually) about the Lincoln MKR.


And also the Camaro Convertible car was on my list of "bests".


None of the SUVs or crossovers set my loins ablaze.
Truck improvements were just that - improvements... nothing revolutionary IMO.

So how 'bout you guys?
Anybody else kinda "underwhelmed" this year?

 

IIRC, I believe it was GM that said a few years ago that they were showing concepts while they were getting the real cars ready for the market. Now it's more about getting attention for the production or near production models.

The Camaro was cool, but you can't really surprise anyone by cutting the roof off a car we've seen before. I think the new stuff from GM is great, especially the CTS and the Malibu. I liked the Volt. It was a neat combination of style and technology ... both of which I believe can be winners.

I didn't spend all that much time in other displays. The Lincoln was cool, as was the Interceptor?

I agree with you that there wasn't anything stunning, like a Cien or a 16, but I'm okay with that, for this year.

 

This was by far one of the better auto shows within the last three years. Used to be, I'd go to the shows a few times a week. However, the last few years I'd only go on media days to do coverage for the web-sites.

This year though, it was media days and two public days just to soak it all in. There was far and away more to see this year from the Big 2 1/2 then in any previous year I can think of.

 

I think it may be because so many "legendary enthusiast halo products" that get us all excited, are just around the corner. Many are tired of waiting for great products, which in several instances, people have been awaiting for a VERY long time. Camaro, Challenger, Revised Mustang, Blue Devil Corvette, 3rd gen Viper, Supra replacement, NSX replacement, Skyline GT-R, Impreza STi, Evo X, CTS-V, M3, RWD Impala, a decent new Lincoln, other Zeta sedans, Ford RWD large sedan, kappa or some sort of affordable RWD sedan from GM, possible new SVT products, etc. Our attention span is too short, if it came out in 2006, it is "so" yesterday, and we are impatient waiting for the absolute latest and greatest.

I think as well, the internet culture has kind of killed some of the fun of the show. Spy pictures and rumor specs are discussed ad nauseam for months, even years, before the debut. Then every official debut is leaked early, and then discussed and bench raced even further on web forums. Its hard to get excited at the show when you already know every single detail. It becomes an anticlimatic experience.

 

I agree. Even aside from the leaks, the media days beforehand mean we've seen pretty much everything in the press before we get to the show. Not much to wow a person once they get there.

For me, I think the CTS was the star of the show. I still don't like its grille, but the rest of the body and the interior are almost perfect. Red is definitely this car's colour, kinda like silver is the current gen's colour.

I also liked the Silverado HD, something that has gotten zero press. Even though it's not a whole lot different than the regular Silverado, the look just seems to suit it better.

The Volt was okay, but I tend to not get too wound up about something that bears almost no resemblance to anything that we'll be able to drive any time soon.

Two things stood out on the Toyota trucks: the doors on the two-door models are huge. They must be as long as an f-body's. And the dash/IP was very cheap looking, easily the worst of the full-size trucks. GM's miles ahead on this count.

Ford's display was disappointing. Very few cars, and the same trucks we've seen forever. Nothing seemed to stand out about it.

 

Yes, I attended 2007 naias show. It's been over 10 years. The best show I remember was 1968. I will not waste my money again ($12). The only thing I liked was the Chrysler water fall, and, the Holden concept car (best in the show). Sure was alot of shoppers (most of them @ the Porche/ BMW/ Audi sites), but, not many gear-heads. Had a good discussion with the Audi R8 ($wow 160K for that!) guy (not a gear head). Would never trade my 1997 SS Camaro (now with many mods) for the NEW 2009. The new toyota truck (no big deal - how about those frame cross member rivets! Nice Engineering!). The Honda truck (not a truck with Independant rear suspension). All that Proche/ BMW stuff(what a shine - but expensive). The BMW V10 engine (where's the torque???) Sat in a Nisan X-tera (nice flex in that shifter!).

 

I am excited by the continuing signs that GM is getting its act together. I am excited by the first hints that Ford might yet do the same. I am excited by the number of RWD American-brand cars coming on to the market. (I'm a little worried about Mopar, but that's another story.)

Nothing at NAIAS blew me away like the Camaro and Challenger did last year, but that would have been hard to top. That said, remember that "show season" will continue for a while longer -- Chicago in Feb, Geneva in March, and NY in April have all become important sites for debuts.

 

I was not compelled enuff this year to make the trip to Detroit like I have for the last 4 or so years . I was anxious enuff to see anything that I couldnt wait to for Chicago . There I get all of Detroit , plus the G8 and Astra Those 2 and the Camaro vert are the biggest things I wanna see .

 

Good points. I feel exactly the same way.
While I don't mind the process of showing what you are going to produce/sell later this same year, I still think they should also have a corner of their display area that tickles you with what's coming. I guess to me, if I don't see some ticklings about the more distant future, it leaves me wondering if there is one... you know?

Like many of you have said, I was not totally disappointed - there were some neat things to see - but I just didn't come away with the feeling of "Holy-crap! Did you see that Whatchamacallit... that thing was awesome!"
Things like the Tomahawk, the Daisy/Cobra, Cien, etc just weren't there.

 

Great point!
Traditionally, Ford for example tends to debut their
Lincoln and Mercury cars at different shows so they don't steal thunder from themselves at the Ford display. Makes sense as a marketing strategy.

Although, I am still not getting too excited about anything totally revolutionary from any of the big three in the next couple of months. <sadly>
I suspect we will see more 08 and 09 pre-production models with a very few concepts sprinkled in for flavor.

 

Mopar does that too -- Jeeps have historically gotten debuts at NY, and small cars in Geneva, for example, although they're supposedly showing a new Chrysler sedan at NY this year, so it's not always consistent.

 

Does anybody besides me think the Camaro's exhaust tips look too ricey? I bet it would look amazing with quad exhaust tips.

 

Those look more ricey than the ones on it, IMO. Just some nice properly sized slash tips would do it for me.

 

GM had two big production vehicle intros, and a very significant concept car. Beyond that, though, what else? Ford could have made a huge splash had they announced plans to put the MKR and Interceptor into production, but the cluetrain continues to avoid Dearborn and we got the standard BS about "looking at our options". Ford's production intros left much to be desired. Chrysler turned out yet another version of its standard minivan theme (albeit one that continues to dominate the competition), and showed off two hints at what we might see at some point about five years away. Pardon me if I find it difficult to participate in too much cheerleading. Had Ford and GM rolled out their new truck offerings instead of blowing their wads at Texas state fairs, I'd probably feel significantly different.

What no one has mentioned yet was one of my favorite vehicles at the show - the Audi Q7 V12 TDI concept. 500 HP, 737 lb-ft, 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, and 20 MPG in a 5000 lb vehicle. The implications here for those of us that want to combine performance and fuel economy should not be overlooked; just imagine what such a powerplant would do in a lighter vehicle.

 

Good post. Your sentiments match mine (or vice-versa, or whatever ).

Pretty stout numbers for a diesel, eh?

Speaking of engines - I think Ford is insane for not doing SOMETHING with the V10 developed for the Daisy/Cobra car. That thing was awesome, and fairly small to boot. It should have been back at NAIAS this year in something new... like the Interceptor concept, a massaged version of the 427 concept car or maybe another flagship vehicle.