CD Article: Top 10 must-see cars at the Detroit auto show

[CD_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
Feature:


With so many new concept and production vehicles on display at the Detroit Auto Show, it's tough to pick favourites, as Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh discovered. But she finally decided on ten "must-see" vehicles - and an additional and very surprising Number Eleven.
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[Eric Green]

This title is entirely misleading and incorrect. The "must see" vehicle was the Chevy Volt- because, absent a feasible fuel cell powered car, this type of technology (and the thinking behind it) is going to become more prevalent in the marketplace. Reduced dependence on unstable ME theocracies for oil. Minimizing exothermic, internal combustion reactions in personal land transportation. Minimizing reliance on dirty, polluting hydrocarbon energy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a car guy (Lotus 7, Jag sedan, Land Rover). But the reality is that the Ford Interceptor, Camaro ragtop, etc. are just playing around with the same tired, obsolete technology that were are still reliant on for persoanl tranportation. The Volt represents the new, available, affordable technology that will be our automotive future. Like it or not.

[safristi]

 Eric GREEN it woz bound to happen........send me that smelly polluting  POS Lotus...I'll take it off yer hands fer FREE no handling OR Transpo or emmission charges...............

[Arthur Dent]

I have to agree the Chevy Volt was probably the most neat car. Don't hear much about it though. Maybe if it were to wear a Toyota badge ...

I rather like the Volvo C30 as well.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

That's the best shot of the trunk I've seen anywhere...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?info=2007%20Volvo%20C30&src=http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/2007/images/volvo/2007_volvo_c30/07c30_pw_7-2364.jpg

Interesting design, as trunk contents need to be hidden from that massive glass hatch, but yet still accessible without hassle once opened. Not to mention, the rear individual bucket seats with centre armrest/pass-thru. Very neat, and size looks be be happy medium - much larger than MINI, smaller than Rabbit/GTI (decent length, shallow depth) but still very usable.

[quadzilla]

That's the best shot of the trunk I've seen anywhere...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?info=2007%20Volvo%20C30&src=http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/2007/images/volvo/2007_volvo_c30/07c30_pw_7-2364.jpg

Interesting design, as trunk contents need to be hidden from that massive glass hatch, but yet still accessible without hassle once opened. Not to mention, the rear individual bucket seats with centre armrest/pass-thru. Very neat, and size looks be be happy medium - much larger than MINI, smaller than Rabbit/GTI (decent length, shallow depth) but still very usable.

  on the trunk pic.

I wonder if the seats fold flat like a floor.  That one the one big thing I didn't like with the Mini-S. 

[Bullet Blue]

That's the best shot of the trunk I've seen anywhere...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?info=2007%20Volvo%20C30&src=http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/2007/images/volvo/2007_volvo_c30/07c30_pw_7-2364.jpg

Interesting design, as trunk contents need to be hidden from that massive glass hatch, but yet still accessible without hassle once opened. Not to mention, the rear individual bucket seats with centre armrest/pass-thru. Very neat, and size looks be be happy medium - much larger than MINI, smaller than Rabbit/GTI (decent length, shallow depth) but still very usable.

yeah that's the best pic I've seen as well. I agree with your comments about the trunk. 

I'd like to see the Ocean Drive and Audi R8 in person for sure.

[haris]

C30 does it for me. Seems to be a great package.

[MKII]

That's the best shot of the trunk I've seen anywhere...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?info=2007%20Volvo%20C30&src=http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/2007/images/volvo/2007_volvo_c30/07c30_pw_7-2364.jpg

Interesting design, as trunk contents need to be hidden from that massive glass hatch, but yet still accessible without hassle once opened. Not to mention, the rear individual bucket seats with centre armrest/pass-thru. Very neat, and size looks be be happy medium - much larger than MINI, smaller than Rabbit/GTI (decent length, shallow depth) but still very usable.

  on the trunk pic.

I wonder if the seats fold flat like a floor.  That one the one big thing I didn't like with the Mini-S. 

pic of rear seats folded http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/7783/bagageek9.jpg

There are two versions of the cargo cover.
A hard version and a soft version. The Hard version has not been in any of the photos but here it is in a info packet:oops thanks SirA!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/23shomare/hard.jpg

and soft version
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/23shomare/attachment.jpg

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The hard version was in the CD photo referenced.

The soft one looks like a pain in the ass, but likely would be beneficial if you had cargo that is a little taller where it would flex instead of hitting something hard.

Thanks for the seats folded photo. It's a bit of an awkward angle but looks like they fold flush-ish. I had tried looking for photos of this but couldn't find any 

[quadzilla]

MKII and SirA:  Thanks for the info.

In the new pics it looks very flush and will probably pass my tests. 

I had a hard cover in the P5 but a soft cover in the 6-wgn.  Both have +'s and -'s but of the two I'd go with the soft.  If you ever had to remove the hard cover for a large (tall) item there really isn't any where to place it.  Of course you could place it on the floor but placing heavy/sharp edged items on it could cause damage.

I guess I'll wait until the TO show or when they hit the dealers for closer inspection.

[Benhaze]

Disappointed with the Nissan Rogue. Looks too much like the Santa Fe (but not as nice) from the rear/side views. Don’t like the front or the interior, the CVT trans. No match to CX-7 in my biased point of view. 

[Stormninja5]

I stumbled across this article on Netscape Saturday afternoon and felt compelled to add my 2 cents...

The cars shown were without a doubt the most hideously ugly collection of battle wagons ever assembled in a single group;  each more bloated, tired and played out and hideous than the one which preceded it.  In particular the Ford Interceptor Concept makes a camel's ass look beautiful in comparison and what is this obessession with dragging back all this 'retro' stuff?  It seems the order of the day is bloat it-then repeat some dead end and played out design from 30 to 40 years ago...First the Mustang and now the Camero  2007 Concept...Bah!  What rubbish.

I can't imagine how being in attendence at the 2007 Auto Show could be equated with a 'kid in a candy shop' .  Based on the photos I've seen it would be more like a root canal without anesthesia.

I just had to go the record as saying, I for One am, not brainwashed by the Automotive Press the way certain idiots in the States are by G W B and company..

[wing]

This year's show was a little on the bland side unfortunately with nothing super exciting that was revealed.

[Leviathan]

This year's show was a little on the bland side unfortunately with nothing super exciting that was revealed.

Dunno. The Chevy Volt seemed pretty note worthy and would actually be super exciting if they had a production date set.

[wing]

True but they do not, all concepts, concepts are difficult to get excited about.

[mdxtasy]

This year's show was a little on the bland side unfortunately with nothing super exciting that was revealed.

Probably why there was no buzz on the forum here and personally, nothing stood out for me. 

[safristi]

Just as well ya don't SING fer yer supper..................

[Snowman]

This title is entirely misleading and incorrect. The "must see" vehicle was the Chevy Volt- because, absent a feasible fuel cell powered car, this type of technology (and the thinking behind it) is going to become more prevalent in the marketplace. Reduced dependence on unstable ME theocracies for oil. Minimizing exothermic, internal combustion reactions in personal land transportation. Minimizing reliance on dirty, polluting hydrocarbon energy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a car guy (Lotus 7, Jag sedan, Land Rover). But the reality is that the Ford Interceptor, Camaro ragtop, etc. are just playing around with the same tired, obsolete technology that were are still reliant on for persoanl tranportation. The Volt represents the new, available, affordable technology that will be our automotive future. Like it or not.

  Great, I buy your Kyoto credits from you then. I bet the Camaro and Interceptor have much better emission ratings compared to your POS Brit cars.

[Simple]

Went to the show yesteraday.  I saw 7 of the 'must see' cars.  Missed the Changfeng SUV, Camaro and the Interceptor.  Loved the Accord concept, 3 series Convertible and the Audi R8

I have got the Detroit show every for the lasy 7-8 years.  This year wasn't as crowded as before.  Nobody was on the people mover, usually is crowded with 100 per train to get to the Cobo center.  No lines for tickets or to get in, when we got there abit after the show opened.