For the first time in a very long time, Detroit is the positive center of the Detroit show. And by Detroit I mean Ford, Chrysler and GM showed off the cars that people were talking about. In fact, I didn’t hear a whole lot of non-American cars being discussed at all. Some inside baseball for you: a typical greeting from one auto journalist to another on the show floor goes something like, “So, what do you like?” And a typical answer is listing off your top three favorite cars. During the 2012 North American International Auto Show I asked that question at least a dozen times, and I heard the same answers again and again and again. With one big exception, they were all domestic. Now, it wasn’t all rainbows and homeruns for the Big 3 – the 2013 Buick Encore being a particularly underwhelming effort. By and large however, the Detroit show belonged to Detroit.
2013 Ford Fusion
Like the Dart and the ATS, the new global Ford Fusion is a car that people couldn’t stop talking about. Everywhere I went it was Fusion this, looks tailored that, plug-in hybrid the other. Ford also seemed to have the most square footage of booth space at the show, and almost everywhere you turned or walked, there was a new-look Fusion. Of course, unlike the others, there was a little bit of negative scuttlebutt concerning the new Ford: it looks just like an Aston Martin. Specifically, I think, the little Cygnet. Ford design boss J Mays told us that the new Fusion would borrow heavily from the stunning Evos design concept. And while it does, it really looks British, in a quite specific Aston way.In the super all important midsize family sedan segment, the Fusion is mondo-distinctive. That’s important because the new Camry looks like the old Camry and shockingly Honda’s new Accord Concept looks JUST LIKE the current Accord. I think new and different is going to be key, but we shall see, we shall see. In the meantime, I think Ford will be basking in the afterglow of the very positive Detroit show Fusion coverage for some time, even if I’m not fully sold.
Lincoln MKZ Concept
I like the MKZ better than I like the Fusion. I feel better now that I have that off my chest. And, at Motor Trend at least, I’m not alone. Executive editor Ron Kiino said the same thing to me as soon as we walked up to the car. It’s just lovely, stylish without being formal, elegant without being stuffy. As to all the naysayers out there crying in their Cheerios because the MKZ Concept isn’t RWD, I have one word for you: Audi. Remember, every car Audi makes save the R8 has front-wheel drive architecture. Doesn’t seem t hurt the four-ringed brand any. The biggest problem for Lincoln has been that the cars look like tarted up Fords. The MKZ doesn’t. More importantly, the whole show was buzzing about the concept, and I counted many more likes than the inevitable and frankly wrongheaded dislikes.Also, and this will probably make the most sense to other auto journalists but I’m going to say it anyhow because I think it’s important, Lincoln’s booth was inspiring. I attend at least four car shows per year and I always come away most impressed by the booths the Germans build. Sleek, stunning and a little bit intimidating (there’s always a booth babe or two standing behind a podium, checking your credentials), the German carmakers always seem to do it right. But I think Lincoln has just done it better. The Lincoln booth was just as impressive looking as what Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Volkswagen had going on, but it was also warm and inviting. An egalitarian form of luxury, which — let’s face it — is exactly what Lincoln should and needs to be. The brand seems to be at a real crossroads, an actual turning point. Let’s hope I’m not reading the situation wrong.
Read more: http://blogs.motortrend.com/how-detroit-stole-the-2012-detroit-auto-show-20463.html#ixzz1jLbhTbEd
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