Triple-D week for me, this, first time in Detroit, first time at the Detroit show, first time on Delta. Despite the dire predictions of certain sages I know, it was all good.
I had been warned I would freeze in a Detroit shivering under its usual several feet of January snow. Not this year. We – a party of four hosted by Chevrolet UK – arrived midday Sunday to clear skies and sun, and a relatively balmy 7C or so. That lasted through Wednesday; rain was falling as the London-bound flight nosed away from the gate that evening and snow had been forecast for today. I guess Simon Warburton, who barely escaped before a blizzard closed the airport last year, will provide a weather update – he’s flying out tonight…
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The show itself impressed. Nice venue, just a few stops along from RenCen on the Docklands Light Railway-like Detroit People Mover elevated monorail which is a lot cheaper to ride at $0.75 (GBP0.49) a go than the GBP4.00 ($6.14) you get stung for a single fare downtown on the London system. The Cobo Center show venue is compact, like Geneva, and easy to navigate around and all the major automakers bar Jaguar Land Rover were there.
Apart from Lotto cheque purchases (for most of us) like the new Porsche 911 convertible and Mercedes SL, real-world attainable models of interest included the much-hyped Dodge Dart and the lovely little Buick Encore small SUV, herald of the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka we’ll see at Geneva in March and a Chevrolet version yet to be confirmed.
The just-auto.com team managed to secure a number of interviews with key industry players including GM’s international operations chief Tim Lee on Opel (he is absolutely determined to make it profitable rather than sell the unit), Fiat-Chrysler head Sergio Marchionne on industry consolidation, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby (previously a kingpin of VW America) on safety and Neil de Koker, president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (the second part is here), on many supplier-related issues.
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Key launch events included the eve-of-show spectacular for the BMW 3-series-chasing Cadillac ATS and the first press day reveal of two new Chevrolet coupe concepts, part of the division’s plan to design new cars to get young people – the millennials – excited about cars again.
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By GlobalDataI liked the ATS a lot, but then I like both compact luxury sedans and American vehicles and not that many here in Europe are keen on the latter. I think the new baby Cadillac – much better than the Saab-built, Europe-only BLS of some years ago – will do well in North America, China and the Middle East but that more conservative buyers over here will stick with their trusted Audi A4 or BMW 3-series.
Think back to the Chrysler 300C launched at the beginning of the noughties; based on Mercedes-Benz E-class architecture it was cheaper than the Benz, and well-made and equipped with a decent V6 diesel available and a wagon alternative to the sedan, but any E-class owner I suggested consider the Chrysler as a replacement looked down his nose: “An American car? Too flashy for me.” Hence the number of blinged-up 300Cs you’d see in the papers being driven by a footballer. ATS build quality and materials are up to class standards and, the number of times “Nurburgring” was mentioned during the launch presentation suggests ride and handling will also match but I think its sharp-edged styling and badge will relegate it to niche volumes in Europe.
Interior materials quality and build are now noticeably very good on GM and Ford vehicles, if those displayed at Detroit are any guide. Chrysler still has work to do and I was suprised at the relatively drab cabins of some US-made Japanese models, especially the Honda Civic. Acres of grey or beige with no highlights. You can’t say the same of most of the new Hyundais and Kias I saw and I reckon the Chrysler Town and Country minivan has a far nicer cabin than its Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey rivals, too.
Other news highlights this week included the announcement Nissan and Daimler will collaborate on engines in North America, and 2011 sales reports from western Europe and China.
Have a nice weekend.
Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, just-auto.com
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