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Auto Show Coverage: 2006 California Auto Show
Apart from all you civilians, we press members experience an exclusive little pocket of each auto show called Media Day. Last year brought memories of multiple automakers from across the Earth's continents making flashy, techno music-filled new car introductions of their latest wares, hyping us up about what's to come. Funny how things can change in a year's time.
At the dawn of 2006, all was quiet on this western front. Only three of the familiar automakers had anything to say – General Motors, Ford, and Volvo – and it wasn't said with much enthusiasm. Arriving right on time for this $3/gallon age, GM was there to show off its all-new 2007 GMC Yukon, bragging about its aerodynamics, greater space, better engines, and fuel economy (no kidding). Ford, pioneer of the 9-mile-per-gallon Excursion SUV, invested a good half-hour convincing us what a "green" company it is, drawing much attention to its Mazda-powered Focus, Mazda-powered Escape, and Mazda-powered Fusion (the latter two of which, by the way, are Mazdas). And finally, Volvo took one more step towards BMW cool with its slick new C70 convertible.
Manufacturers aside, Kelley Blue Book had some upbeat news for anyone who recently purchased a Mini Cooper, Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Prius, Infiniti G35 coupe, Infiniti M45, BMW 5-series, Chevrolet Corvette, Lexus GX470, Porsche Cayenne, or Volvo XC90, because as it turns out, said owners hold the keys to the Top Ten Highest Resale Value vehicles on the market. Anyone whose key has a blue-and-white propeller has some reason to celebrate, as the BMW family commands the highest resale value by brand.
Attention was divided fairly evenly out on the showroom floor. GM, whose eight brands again usurped the northern third of the showroom, had a new pair of giant sedans for Buick and Cadillac, its runaway retro hit Chevy HHR, a mini-me Hummer, and the fastest-ever edition of the Corvette. Ford had its Mazda 6-based Fusion (and its Lincoln/Mercury equivalents) and F-150-based Lincoln Mark LT, Chrysler had the new Magnum-based Dodge Charger and Grand Cherokee-based Commander. New stuff, but not really new, you know? Except for of course the Pontiac Solstice, the prime-time star that has been a hot commodity since its appearance on NBC's The Apprentice, and rightfully so.
Asia brought over the first splash in what will be a tidal wave of economy cars – Honda Civic, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent – and Honda and Toyota was sure to bring each and every hybrid along. Mazda brought along its new Miata, as well as a pre-shrunk vanlet called the 5, which seats six. Mitsubishi had a new Eclipse and a few Ralliart concepts, Lexus had the attention-grabbing IS, Subaru and Suzuki each brought a new SUV. Isuzu was, again, missing.
Things were pretty even over in Europe-land as well. BMW had its new 3-series (looking much like the old), Mercedes had a new SUV and minivan, VW and Audi had a nifty new Passat and A3, Volvo had its S40-based V70, Jaguar had a sexy new XK coupe, and Land Rover had a new LR3-based Range Rover Sport. Oddly, Porsche skipped out on this one.
Plenty of important product here, but where were the standouts? The showstoppers? The cars that magnetized anyone within 500 feet to stare in awe and conjure thoughts of selling the house? There were far fewer wild concepts, and even the tally of blindingly blond spokesmodels fell from about three-quarters to one-half. Well, the real-world marketplace has made a seismic shift to favor more practical and sensible modes of transportation within the past year. The showroom floor was bound to catch up sometime.
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This thing got a Hemi? Funny you should ask, because it has two: one 5.7-liter V8 in the front, another in the back, for a total of 700 horsepower and 750 pounds-feet of...
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It's a "Grand Vitara for snow sport enthusiasts" with everything you see here and a few things you don't: Internet access to check snow conditions, ventilated wet gear storage, dockable iPod station, video and gaming system, and a turbocharger for that V6.
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