North American International Auto Show

[HarleyEarl]

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News Sixty percent of the exhibits at the 2006 North American International Auto Show will be new. The show will include two-story displays featuring vehicles vertically mounted on walls and enormous LED screens as backdrops. Opulent show bucks bad news Detroit automakers go all-out for event Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News 2006 Auto Show Where: Cobo Center in Detroit When: 9 a.m. -10 p.m., Jan. 14-21 (no admittance after 9 p.m.); 9 a.m. -7p.m., Jan. 22 (no admittance after 6 p.m.) Handicap access at 8 a.m. daily Ticket prices: $12 for adults; $6 for senior citizens 65 and older; $5 for children 7-12; free admission for children 6 and under; children 12 and younger must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Purchase tickets online at www.naias.com or at the door. Cash only. Information: www.naias.com Despite the nearly nonstop flow of bad news for Detroit's automakers in recent months, what may be the slickest, most extravagant auto show in the city's history is rising from a sea of drop cloths, plywood and whining buzz saws at Cobo Center. Sixty percent of the exhibits at the 2006 North American International Auto Show will be new, with automakers spending more than $200 million to build lavish, two-story displays featuring vehicles vertically mounted on walls (the Mini Cooper is already prominently placed) and enormous LED screens as backdrops. Exhibitors plan to unveil some 62 cars and trucks, half of which will be concepts. The array of vehicles to debut includes Mercedes-Benz's all-new GL-Class SUV, the Mazda CX-7 crossover and Nissan's Urge concept sports car. "With this being the first major show of the year, it's an opportunity for the manufacturers to really showcase their products and they're stepping up to the plate with tremendous exhibits," show co-chairman Bob Thibodeau Jr. said. "(The show) is really going to take on a whole new look." The changes will be substantial, with many displays reconfigured. Honda Motor Co. is creating a circular stage that has a theater-like feel. Even as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. struggle, domestic automakers will lead the extravaganza with all-new exhibits. GM's brands will be displayed symmetrically and divided by a long walkway that could upstage a Milan fashion runway. The pine-colored path ends at a stage where a gargantuan LED screen will glare. Ford's display will include 2,400 LED screens. It hopes new design and interactive touches will allow visitors to experience its cars and trucks in a more personal way. "We want people to enter our space and feel like they're part of the Ford Motor Co. experience," said J Mays, group vice president of design and chief creative officer. "We're taking a more emotive approach to even better connect with people and win the hearts and minds of more people we'd like to call our customers. So with a sensory-driven approach, we're creating more vivid experiences that showcase, brand by brand by product, where automobiles meet real life." American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's residence in Pennsylvania inspired an organic Jeep display. In a related matter, finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards were released Tuesday. The Ford Fusion, Honda Civic and Pontiac Solstice will vie for car honors, and the Honda Ridgeline pickup, Ford Explorer and Nissan Xterra SUVs will compete for the truck award. Winners will be announced Jan. 8 Edited December 14, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

In a related matter, finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards were released Tuesday. The Ford Fusion, Honda Civic and Pontiac Solstice will vie for car honors, and the Honda Ridgeline pickup, Ford Explorer and Nissan Xterra SUVs will compete for the truck award. Winners will be announced Jan. 8

Well we all know who will get truck of the year since the media has been yankin' it over the Ridgeline (EVEN despite poor public reception) for a year now and all this despite it being ugly, copy-cat and not that sensible.

The Explorer, according to MT "Is only good enough for old Explorer owners to trade up to"---You know, limit the sales of a #1, best selling, money maker, money spent redesign to an already dieing segment of loyalists to hamper demand, no big surprise.

The Solstice deserves COTY and I'd also like to see the Fusion get it. But my bets are on the Civic, cheesy and 80s-retroesque/Prius knock off as it is.

A Honda sweep....Hmmm....They are automotive gods after all :rolleyes: