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Auto Show Coverage: 2005 California Auto Show
Just a block down the street from The Happiest Place on Earth, the nation's most car-crazed state held its first auto show (with three more to follow in winter) featuring what's to come in 2005 and 2006. Everyone who's anyone in the auto industry was at Anaheim's Convention Center this week (which might explain Isuzu's absence), as were some big-name tuners (Steve Saleen, anyone?). Whether speaking of the performers or the audience, it was a healthy turnout.
Some automakers thought they could impress the press with flashy shows blasting metal and techno at deafening volumes. Some automakers were wrong. Motor Trend performed their annual advertising stunt by unveiling 2005's SUV Of The Year, with the Land Rover LR3 taking honors over the Chevy Equinox, Ford Freestyle, Hyundai Tuscon, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Nissan Pathfinder and XTerra. Every automaker had a radiant, buffed-up sample of every model currently on sale to draw stares. Some drew more than others.
Nearly qualifying for deserted-island status were Mercury and Buick, to name two. The spokeswomen presenting Buick's all-new Terraza minivan and LaCrosse sedan had little need for their microphones, because as their entire audience at the time, I could hear them just fine. Things weren't much brighter for Chevrolet across the way, or any of GM's divisions (which collectively occupied one-third of the showroom) save Cadillac and Hummer. Of course, the new faster-than-ever Corvette got lots of love.
Ford's luck was better, largely thanks to the new Mustang, which drew even more interest than the Shelby GR-1 concept supercar. Dodge's display of the somewhat-new 2005 Caravan drew some crowds, thanks to automated electronics folding the new Stow-N-Go seats in the flashiest way possible. Jeep's new Grand Cherokee had some interest, but Chrysler's real lemme-see!-lemme-see! car was the ME-Four-Twelve, which managed to look as stunning as a Ferrari without resembling one. The attention it drew was the kind that might tilt management towards production of this V-12, mid-engined, all-American exotic, even with the Dodge Viper in their arsenal. Cross your fingers.
Traffic was generally moderate at import brands. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda had one or two people in most cars, except Mazda's apparently still-stunning RX-8, which had more than one or two. Relative lack of interest in Honda and Acura's tricked-out sport compacts, despite Acura's new A-spec packages (which are purely cosmetic) bring hope that Hollywood won't be releasing The Fast And The Furious Part III anytime soon. Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, and Audi had about the same number of people, but it was more of an "oooh" and "aaah" affair. BMW's months-old 6-series convertible and Audi's year-old flagship A8 drew stares, and Infiniti's all-new 2006 M35/M45 sedan (spring release) drew even more. But the center of attention at the time of my witness was the Lexus LF-C concept. Serving as the basis for the next IS300 (and maybe the long-rumored Toyota Supra), the rear-drive LF-C was shown in droptop form with stunning styling cues. While some of them won't make it to production, Lexus presented the car as representative of Lexus' design future.
Despite the re-introduced Kia Sportage and its basis, the new Hyundai Tuscon, Korea didn't draw many lookers. And in spite of a mostly ancient model lineup, Volkswagen drew decent traffic; members of the female persuasion adored the Beetle convertible. Next year will likely be madness when Volkswagen re-arms with a new Passat, Jetta, and Golf. Sadly, the magnetic Microbus that has appeared in auto shows past has been delayed for an unknown duration. The crowds at Mini were anything but.
Manufactuers primarily use auto shows to flaunt their latest wares, but as far as the powers of attraction are concerned, beauty and interesting design seemed to beat newness at this auto show. The same could be said about the marketplace.
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