What's Hot, What's Not at the Auto Show
Too close to call
— Toyota Tundra. It's handsome–and huge, with a hood height that reaches my chest—but don't take for granted that Toyota's new Texas-built pickup will trample the domestics the way Toyota's passenger cars have. GM and Ford will defend this turf with everything they've got.
— Smart fortwo. Just because the Mini Cooper has been a huge hit doesn't mean this truncated carlet, with room for two passengers and a duffel, will find America as welcoming as Europe, where it is already sold. The pug-nosed fortwo looks like a glorified golf cart, which makes it novel but not necessarily cute.
Best car with a terrible name
— Volkswagen Tiguan. VW, foolishly, held a contest to name this crossover. The winning entry is a mix of "tiger" and "iguana." Get it? Neither do I. The shame of it is that this will be one sweet ride when introduced to the United States in 2008. The Tiguan is based on the Jetta platform, and it's as cute as the Rabbit and as luxurious as an upscale Passat. The plan is to undercut the BMW X3 with a crossover that's almost as fun. I bet it works.
Affordable car I'd love to own
— Volvo C30. This two-door hatchback is sportier than the way-cool Mazda3, with the quirky, user-friendly dash found in the Volvo S40. Oh ... and it's powered by a 218-horsepower turbocharged engine that I can't wait to try out. And its low profile promises great handling. Plus it's got fresh features in the right places, like fat, flared rear fenders and a huge amount of glass in the rear hatch. Sweden rocks.
Cure for Camryitis
Midlevel sedans like the Camry and Accord are usually practical, but boring. The new Dodge Avenger will enliven this sedate crowd in 2007 with bulging haunches and muscle-car cred derived from its big brother, the Charger. Even Honda is glamming up. An early version of the new Accord coming later this year is as swept as a bullet, a walk on the wild side for this staid carmaker.
Comic relief
— Changfeng Motor Co. This Chinese company wants to sell cars in the United States within a few years, and it came to Detroit to show off a few of its wares. They're not bad. But the marketing brochures are a priceless antidote to the usual auto-industry machismo. An SUV called the CFA6400 "never makes you disappointed," according to one glossy pamphlet, and "it carries forward the pure notable blood relationship." No, I haven't left out any words or committed any typos. In another SUV, the CHA2030, "you will feel full of momentum and great dignity." Now that's what American drivers really crave. Dignity.
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