Autos on Display
naias.mediaroom.com /Artwork: designslinger]
The big 2009 auto industry reveal is underway. The North American International Auto
Show is being presented during one of the worst downturns in industry history, but everyone seems all smiles at the Cobo Center in Detroit. Lots of talk about downsizing the cars as well as the factories, better gas mileage, more hybrids, green, green, green. And, how do they look? After all, that's all I really care about anyway. Well, it all looks the same to me. I realize that in trying to maximize fuel efficiency aerodynamic design is a critical factor. But, all that flowing air has made one automobile brand look very much like the next.
Honda via usatoday.com /Artwork: designslinger]
Take a look at the left hand image in the panel; the Lincoln C concept car may be a luxury
brand with lots of bells and whistles in terms of engineering, ride, talking computers and such. But when I look at it, I'm reminded of a Chrysler from a few years ago. And, the hybrid Honda Insight will get great gas mileage, but it has that narrow, slit-eye, side window profile that we have on our 2003 Honda Accord.
naias.mediaroom.com /Artwork: designslinger]
I have to hand it to the folks at BMW for coming up with the Mini. Alright, so maybe it's a
little gimmicky, but it is has a great look and will now be available as a convertible. It reminds me of the reconfigured Beetle that Volkswagen came out with several years ago, what a design statement that little bug made. Oh, those Germans. Anyway, Kia has introduced the Soul'ster. It looks like some amalgamation of the Porsche Cayenne meets the pick-up truck with a dash of the Escalade, but it has some nice proportions and the orangy-yellow is a nice color choice.
Will any of these automakers be distant memories by the time of next year's show?
And, will the survivors introduce even smaller cars? Hopefully as the everything downsizes, the car of the future will look more like the future, rather than the past.
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