The auto show “season” is more or less over. It starts every fall, in either Paris or Frankfurt, and winds up in April in New York.
In the intervening months we see major auto shows in places like Tokyo, Shanghai, Detroit, Montreal, Chicago, Toronto, Geneva, Vancouver, and this year even Flin Flon — though that was probably an accident and not likely to be repeated.
So let’s take stock of some of the finer and/or more interesting debuts we saw this season, because they could represent significant trends moving forward, and it’s never a bad idea to contemplate bright, shiny objects.
Personal Transport Re-Think
Of the “envelope pusher” concepts brought to light this year, my faves were the Volkswagen L1 and Nissan Land Glider. Both position the passenger directly behind the driver, like on a motorcycle. The L1 is so named because its diesel-electric powertrain only needs 1 L of fuel to travel 100 kilometres. It looks like a big cigar, or worse.
The Nissan Glider is an EV, but its most cunning attribute is that it can lean like a motorcycle (up to 17 degrees), which should make it a blast (or at least interesting) to drive.
Also of note in this category is the Honda 3R-C Concept, a fully enclosed single-seat, three-wheeled device running on battery power. It looks aggressively high-tech, I’m guessing, so maybe you don’t feel so vulnerable in your smallness.
Future high performance
This is a really exciting category, as automakers are realizing that electric power can simultaneously boost power and lower emissions. When you make stunning e-rides like the Audi e-Tron concepts, our conversion to electric propulsion will be done with little duress.
One of the genuine surprises at the recent Geneva show was another car in this vein — the Porsche 918 Spyder. This concept combines the 500-hp V8 from the RS prototype racers with two electric motors, for an additional 218 horses. It can go 198 mph and get 78 mpg if you baby it.
Significant high volume
The 2012 Focus compact represents Ford’s first truly global platform — versions will be literally made and sold in every corner of the planet. A slick wagon/minivan version called C-Max is particularly compelling. Aided by the equally new Fiesta, it should re-establish Ford as a small-vehicle powerhouse.
The new Buick Regal is equally global; it’s currently produced in China where it’s selling like hot cakes, and will soon be built in Canada.
It’s based on platform that also underpins Opel Insignia, Buick LaCrosse, and the upcoming Cadillac XTS. The Regal GS concept unveiled in Detroit, with all-wheel drive and a 255-hp 2.0-litre turbo, tells us that Buick is (finally) serious about attracting younger buyers.
Significant head-scratchers
At Detroit, sitting by itself, with no display material or fanfare was a Lancia Delta fitted with a Chrysler grille. Lancia is one of the brands owned by Chrysler’s parent company, Fiat. Not only did it seem odd, but also no one at Chrysler seemed interested in conveying why it was there.
Equally upsetting was the Aston Martin Cygnet — a very small and cheap Toyota iQ dressed in Aston Martin finery.
The Cygnet would only be sold to current Aston Martin owners, presumably for them to drive on city errands and such, when piloting their regular Astons might be deemed overkill.
Speaking of death, this column is done!
Michael Goetz has been writing about cars and editing automotive publications for over 20 years. He lives in Toronto with his family and a neglected 1967 Jaguar E-type.
