Me with the Kia "Hamstar" and not Darren Dobson
The North Amercian International Auto Show, held every January in Detroit, MI is still, to my mind the most significant auto show in North America. It’s where car companies often get their first crack to debut new models and concepts to a throng of international media and where the buzz for the year ahead often begins.
This year I decided to join the roughly 5,000 other accredited journalists and head down to Detroit along with my fellow auto journalist and friend Darren Dobson. Darren writes for a series of hi net-net worth magazines while I write about eco and family friendly vehicles for the Enviro Dad Test Drive, so while we were both looking for different things, we were both excited to see what was there. The ironic thing was that on more than one occasion, we found ourselves admiring the same vehicle but for different reasons. To my mind, this was one of the most exciting things about what I discovered in the two days I spent crossing the massive exhibit space.
Huge Media Crowds at each Press Conference
With each press conference I attended, the consistent message seemed to be that car companies are leaving their irresponsible, gas-guzzling past behind and investing more and more into the eco friendly future. It seemed that everyone was either showcasing either new Hybrid designs, new Electric Vehicle designs or at bare minimum updated versions of models that have become leaner, meaner and more fuel efficient.
While I’ll spare everyone from giving a rundown of everything I saw, I’ll mention a few of what I consider to be the more notable announcements that came from the Press Conferences held during Media Days.
Toyota/Lexus
Toyota NS4 Hybrid Concept
One of the pioneering companies when it comes to hybrid technology is continuing to press onwards and not sit on its laurels. Toyota announced that it would be launching a third member of it’s benchmark Prius label with the addition of the Prius-C. The “C” will be a compact version of the Prius which will be aimed more at a young, urban crowd. It’s a bit smaller than the mainline Prius and much smaller than the Prius-V full sized version that launched a year ago. Toyota also showcased what it calls the “Prius of the future” with the premier of the NS4 Hybrid concept. A gorgeous design compliments new technologies that Toyota expects to see launched by 2015.
Lexus LF LC Hybrid Concept
Lexus also showcased it’s vision of the future with perhaps the most eye-catching concept of the show, that being the IF IC hybrid concept. Simply gorgeous lines compliment a host of advanced technologies which we may see in about 3 years. Ready for this year though is the re-designed GS series which includes the GS450h. I tested the 2011 version and found it to be good but not as good as the Infiniti M35h. A big problem with the old GS450h was how the nickel metal hydride battery was positioned as it left nothing more than a bread box for a trunk. While they still sadly use N.M.H. batteries, it’s been better positioned along with a few other improvements.
Ford
2013 Ford Fusion Roll Out
The Ford Fusion is Ford’s entry in the ultra-competitive mid-sized sedan category and it has been losing market share recently due to an older design that was getting rather pedestrian looking when compared against many of the newer and more attractive competitors. To counter their slide, they completely re-designed the Fusion and launched not only one new verion but three.
The Fusion for 2013 will come be available as a gasoline, gas-electric hybrid and a plug in hybrid design. The new Fusion is a big improvement esthetically from its predecessor and the new series of propulsion systems seem consistent with its desire to maintain it’s #1 position in total sales as well as being on the cutting edge of new and green technology.
Nissan
Nissan NV Concept Electric Van
As an automotive writer who focuses on both eco friendly and family friendly vehicles, I’ve often lamented how not much eco-focus is being done by automakers when it comes to family vehicles like vans. Imagine my delight then when Nissan revealed a concept electric family van, based largely on the existing technology found in the now available Nissan Leaf.
While it remains a concept, it was the first indication I’ve seen by any automaker that the needs of large families who also want to make the right eco decisions where vehicles are concerned, are not being ignored. It’s anyone’s guess when or if we’ll see an electric minivan in dealerships but I suppose we once thought that way about the Leaf as well.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept
For years, the folks at VW seemed disinterested in joining their competitors in the development of hybrids and electric cars – favouring instead to develop their TDI and clean diesel engine technology. Imagine my surprise then when not only did they announce that they would be moving to introduce not one, but two hybrid vehicles, with hybrid versions of their Toureg SUV and their signature Jetta sedan. On top of that they rolled out their first electric concept the E-Bugster, which as the name implies is a two-seat electrified version of their legendary Beetle. This one seems to be a bit further off than other E-concepts but it would be very interesting to see it evolve.
Honda/Acura
Acura IL X Concept
Acura has been in a sales funk for a couple years now. Part of that has to do with some questionable and rather divisive designs such as was the case with the TL re-vamp a couple years back. That said, I also think that part of the reason was that they didn’t seem to be making the same eco strides as other luxury brands were. It was a pleasant surprise then to see them roll out their “concept” 2013 ILX sedan, which for the first time included an available hybrid system. I put “concept” in italics here because most auto journalists you talk to don’t believe that this is anything but a soft roll out of a vehicle that will likely replace the TSX and become part of the regular line up.
Honda Fit EV
Honda, which brought the first commerical hybrid to North America with the Insight Hybrid debuted a new look 2013 Accord, which for the first time has an optional hybrid available. This is a positive in my view since the mid to full sized sedan category still seems a bit thin on solid hybrid options. Also at the show, Honda was showcasing their Fit EV compact which we hopefully will see available for sale within the next year or so.
Mercedes Benz
Mercedes F-Cell Hydrogen Powered
The popular B-series platform forms the basis for their E-Cell electric vehicle concept as well as their now available F-Cell hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. I actually had the chance to drive the F-cell on the indoor test track that is set up on the lower level of the Cobo Centre for various electric and hybrid vehicles to be demonstrated. I learned while driving that the F-cell is currently being leased in California and about 30 are already on the road. Customers pay roughly $900 USD per month and for that amount it covers their lease fees, all maintenance and get this…even their fuel! Suppliers of hydrogen fuel just bill Mercedes as per established agreement so that clients have ultimate simplicity! They say it takes about 3 to 5 minutes to refill and can last several hundreds of miles.
BMW
BMW I8 Hybrid Concept
Die hard Beemer fanatics were loving the two concept cars displayed by BMW at the show. The uber-sleek I8 hybrid concept drew huge attention, which may have had something to do with it being featured in the latest Mission Impossible film. It’s gorgeous and promises to offer 400 hp and a top speed of about 250 km/h.
Also getting a lot of attention was the I3 electric concept car, designed for urban living. BMW is actually hoping to have this concept on display and for use during the 2012 London Olympics in much the same way that GM showcased the Chevy Volt during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Bentley
2012 Bentley Continental V8
Bentley you say?! Why would I be writing about an ultra luxury vehicle on Enviro Dad?! Well I would wonder the same thing if it weren’t for what I saw with their new Continental V8. It seems that the Bentley engineers have designed a V8 engine that has the ability to completely disengage 4 of its cylinders when not needed. So essentially it accelerates on 8 cylinders but automatically (and without being noticed by the driver) cruises on just 4 cylinders. While we would never compare an uber car like this to say a Prius, it shows to me how even at the upper tier of luxury cars, eco-engineering is making headway.
And finally, my favourite exhibit…TESLA
Tesla Model-S Front View
Tesla Model-S Side View
For any electric car enthusiast Tesla Motors is really at the pinnacle of eco-engineering. The blood, sweat and lots of money project of Elon Musk – he of Pay Pal fame, Tesla has been pushing the development of electric vehicles with extended range well beyond it’s own company limits. The original Tesla Roadster is what former GM Chairman Bob Lutz claims inspired him to pursue the development and release of the Chevy Volt.
At the show, Tesla only had one car on display but it was their premium Model S family sedan. This vehicle which can actually seat seven (2 kids sit facing backwards in the rear) and will offer three battery options which can extend the car as much as 480 km’s without needing a charge. the Model S will begin production in 2012 after already securing 6,500 reservations and down payments. What I love about the Model S is that it’s not only a family focused electric vehicle, but a gorgeous looking one as well! It’s also priced well below the $100K plus original roadster, and while still priced in the luxury catergory realm, it’s creeping down to where electric long range vehicles are accessible to more and more buyers.
While there were many other interesting launches at the show (the re-birth of the Dodge Dart as a compact entry for Chrysler comes to mind) none were of any greater significance to a green auto writer like me than what I mentioned above. The bottom line though is that it seems we truly are past the point of no return for auto makers where eco-friendly designs are concerned. While market share may still take some time to grow to levels that make eco-designs the norm versus the exception, I remain optimistic that with each new model year, the future will look greener and greener all around and auto shows like this will continue to be the ever so effective launching pad!
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