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Auto Show Coverage: 2005 Inland Empire Auto Show
An outsider heading to an auto show in a Southern California region called the Inland Empire probably expects a majestic, cultural paradise with plenty of fun, sun, and sand. True enough, if you take "paradise" to mean smog, "sand" to mean desert, "sun" to mean 90 degrees and "fun" to mean commuting in gridlocked traffic to get there. Also, an auto show in March is like a movie release in February; can you say "leftovers"? Sorry, the 2005 model year was pretty much done by Christmas.
Holding this "Inland Empire" event within Los Angeles County (city of Pomona) didn't seem to help the turnout – should we call the parking lot half-empty or half-full? – and that goes for the hosts as well. High-profile automakers like BMW, Audi, Porsche, and everything on up didn't feel it was worth their time. Mazda felt the same way. Come to think of it, so did Hyundai. Ford didn't even bring along Lincoln or Mercury – a missed opportunity, considering the age of the show-goers. But at least most others showed up. Sort of.
The press kit hinted at four new models entering the spotlight at this auto show. Among those four, three came, and of those three, all have been revealed at past auto shows and/or SuperBowl commercials, and one is already on sale: the Honda Ridgeline. As the only vehicle available for any behind-the-scenes press interaction, I got a chance to drive Honda's newest creation on nearby streets. Reminding me somewhat of the Honda Odyssey (as it should), I was mostly impressed with this new, unit-bodied, mid-sized truck. It felt quite car-like and refined; do truck buyers want that? The only letdown was sluggish steering.
The Lexus RX400h was one of the other new kids. As the most advanced hybrid SUV to date, no other vehicle lets you destroy the Earth with such efficiency. The B9 Tribeca is Subaru's answer to the Nissan Murano (not that Nissan asked), and it's an all-new, seven-seat SUV sharing a platform with no other Subaru. Quick specs: 3.0-liter H6 engine with 250 horsepower, symmetrical all-wheel-drive, double-wishbone rear suspension, 18-inch wheels, price tag of just over $30,000. The Dodge Charger was the no-show, but whatever you know about the Chrysler 300 is what you know about the Charger.
The only one with something to show that we don't already see on the road was Chrysler, which brought along the cool, rugged little Jeep Treo, an electric-powered three-seat off-roader, and a really classy-looking variation on a familiar vehicle renamed the California Cruiser. Both are concepts only. GM had the GXP version of the Pontiac G6, which should bring some sports sedan credibility to that car, and Volkswagen showed the new Jetta that went on sale earlier this month. Everything else was status quo.
Away from the cars, there was also an educational safety kiosk with computers that asked such thought-provoking questions as "Which is most useful to have in your car? A. a safety kit, B. jumper cables, or C. both?"
An intriguing guest from the non-mainstream regions of the automotive world was an obscure little company called ZAP (Zero Air Pollution), whose line of Smart microcars – not to be confused with the DaimlerChrysler affiliate – will be arriving "any hour now," the PR rep assures me. With a lineup ranging from a 25 MPH electric car to a 67-horsepower, 3-cylinder turbo (convertible optional), they're not what you could call functional all-purpose transportation, but if the trip is short and you're too rich to walk, spoil yourself. Why waste time on the mundane?
Good question. Think about sticking to the Anaheim auto shows.
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