2008 North American International Auto Show [NAIAS]

Sure, it was strange seeing Bob Lutz and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick bustin' a move to Kid Rock. And surely it was a bit surreal to see a herd of longhorn steer trying (in vain) to procreate on the streets of Detroit.

But we maintain that the weirdest thing we've seen at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show is VW Group Overlord and all-around German-industry sultan, Dr. Ferdinand Piech without a security detail. Nor did the iceman trail an entourage. He wasn't even wearing his customary cape and crown. No, he was just a dude ambling over to the GMC (!) stand and taking a long careful look at the interior of a Sierra pickup truck.

Then he posted up behind GM's stage to get a good long look at the Cadillac CTS Coupe concept, a car of some interest to various German luxury brands. "Dr. Piech," we said, "What do you think?"

"Still sinking," he said without deigning to look at us. Then he high-tailed it out of there, likely intimidated by our presence. We were sure he meant "still thinking." But, maybe not. Maybe he meant "still sinking." Maybe it wasn't that he hadn't formed an opinion of this new car yet. Maybe he had and knew that Cadillac was still sinking -- years before it would become apparent to Cadillac.

You win again, Piech! You win again. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit

Straightline - 2008 Detroit Auto Show: Piech is "Still Sinking"

I live for these kind of moments at an auto show. He need not worry, the Audi S5 looks much better.

M

PanterroR · Jan 15, 2008

siko · Jan 15, 2008

Acura Clean Diesel i-DTEC Technology
Pictures and press release @ WCF.
Thread started by Merc1.

Scion xB Release Series 5.0
Pictures and press release @ WCF.

siko · Jan 15, 2008

Detroit Babes: Photo Gallery @ WCF...

siko · Jan 16, 2008

Detroit 2008: Autoblog picks the most significant introductions

LINK

Merc1 · Jan 16, 2008

Autoblog is clueless on the Cadillac. That thing isn't going to make any German maker nervous looking like that. Dodge Ram is the most significant? Yeah right.

M

Merc1 · Jan 16, 2008

Auto show creates less buzz

Imports' executives re-evaluating where to showcase their brands amid tighter budgets.

After the flash, bright lights and cattle run that accompanied chief product revelations this week at the Detroit auto show, the buzz on the show floor was the lack of buzz.

Auto executives remarked that many new vehicles had been seen before and that some top industry names had skipped the event.

And as some executives had feared, the Los Angeles show organizers' decision to move their event from right after Christmas to a more convenient slot in November seemed to have drawn business away from Detroit.

U.S. auto executives attributed the subdued mood at the Detroit show to a gloomy industry outlook and tighter budgets. "The entire industry is in transition and contemplative," said John Smith, General Motors Corp. vice president of global product planning.

Executives at import brands said they are re-evaluating which is the best U.S. venue for their vehicles -- the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center, which attracts the most journalists, or the auto shows in Los Angeles and New York, cities where they have more customers.

"There's a lot of discussion about this, especially as we all have to save money and target our investment," said Stefan Krause, BMW AG board member in charge of sales. "We noticed that a few companies didn't come, a few of our competitors didn't have press conferences."

BMW introduced the production version of its X6 crossover and a 1 Series convertible this week. But the Bavarian automaker hasn't decided whether to maintain the same presence in Detroit next year.

"We're observing what other brands are doing," Krause said. "There was a lot of discussion prompted by Porsche's move out."

Porsche AG caused a stir last year when it said it would quit Detroit to focus on shows in regions where its customers are concentrated.

But Detroit show organizers say they have not seen a drop-off in the number of vehicle introductions. They say more than 50 production and concept vehicles made their world or North American debut in Detroit this year, compared with 55 last year and more than 40 at the 2007 show in Los Angeles. Final figures for the Detroit show will be issued later this week.

However, many major brands had little new to show here.

For instance, Nissan Motor Co. unveiled its GT-R supercar in Tokyo and its Murano crossover in Los Angeles and will make its next big introduction -- the redesigned Maxima sedan -- in New York in April.

In Detroit, Nissan displayed a minivan concept, the Forum, which it had unveiled a few weeks earlier to the trade press. The automaker's high-profile CEO Carlos Ghosn didn't attend.

Nissan spokesman Simon Sproule said the timing of the market launches often determines where a model will be shown for the first time. "This year was quieter for us because of the product cycle," he said.

Honda Motor Co. also made its splashiest recent introduction -- the FCX Clarity fuel-cell car -- in Los Angeles, while it showed a concept for the next Pilot SUV in Detroit.

"We look at all the shows as opportunities to showcase products," said Honda's U.S. sales chief John Mendel.

U.S. automakers also are reaching out to auto shows in other regions of the country. "Detroit's still a very, very important show for us and a huge opportunity to get the word out about products like the F-150," said Ford Motor Co. spokesman Mark Truby. "But all the auto shows are trying to raise their game."

Industry analysts say Detroit remains the premiere American auto show -- and they point to the decision of aspiring Chinese exporters to stage displays in Detroit as evidence of that. "Clearly, the Chinese have recognized that Detroit is the place," said Alexander Edwards of consulting firm Strategic Vision in San Diego.

But the show is bound to lose some business as import brands parcel out their vehicle introductions. "They are looking to spread things around," and they are likely to reach more customers at the New York and Los Angeles shows, Edwards said.

Nissan's market share is 7 percent in California, 6 percent in New York, and 1 percent in Michigan, according to Strategic Vision. Toyota Motor Corp.'s market share is three times larger in California and New York than in Michigan.

"It used to be that there was Detroit, there was Tokyo, and there was a European show -- and that's where everybody put all their efforts," said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA.

Now, Chicago and New York are vying for new products -- as well as cities in China and other booming markets, he said. "That said, we still feel that this is the big show because it allows us to reach the most journalists."

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe traveled this week to Detroit, where he spoke with reporters.

Toyota, now the second-biggest seller of cars in the United States, ahead of Ford, unveiled two vehicles this week -- a concept for a compact pickup, the A-BAT, and a new crossover, the Venza.

Analysts say smaller brands may have felt that any events they scheduled in Detroit would be overshadowed by the debuts of the hugely important Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram pickups.

"The Detroit show is where the Americans put their best foot forward, and some import brands may have decided that, that's the place the Americans will shine, let's go somewhere else," said Jack Nerad, editorial director at Kelley Blue Book.

But the big truck introductions were not a surprise, and many people had seen spy shots of the F-150 earlier.

Many magazines and news outlets with access to the photos ahead of the show are increasingly ignoring embargo dates set by the automakers.

"With the advent of the Internet and embargos breaking right and left, I think some of the romance has gone out of auto shows," said Chris Paukert, an editor at Winding Road, an Ann Arbor-based online auto enthusiast publication.

Auto show creates less buzz

Interesting, but this is from a press point of view. I for one don't have any less enthusiasm for the show because of early photo reveals, in fact it makes me want to attend that much more. I think most people outside of the press would agree.

M

JadeVetti · Jan 16, 2008

This is interesting because if they brought all that sparkle and shine to places like New York, it would create an upsurge in attendees, to say the least.

Plus the press? Then you really wouldn't be able to maneuver around with the overcrowding, and I'll see more aggressive shoving/pushing going on, like last year. A fight will become inevitable. The boys come buzzed and decked out as if Javits Center is Club Javits, and girls flock to these events in groups now b/c they heard it's the ultimate place to meet men (all this I observed).

As much as I would love to see the effects, it would be wise for some manufacturers to pick their draw, and not all concentrate in just one city/show.

Bartek S. · Jan 16, 2008

We had a little too much fun, as you can see above.

SDNR · Jan 16, 2008

Hey Marcus, what day are you going?

2008 North American International Auto Show [NAIAS]

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