DieselDrive - Detroit Show highlights Part 1

Detroit Highlights Part 1 The Detroit Motor Show – officially known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) – is one of the world’s premier annual motoring extravaganzas. With the American motor industry having returned from the brink of collapse recently, it’s only fitting that 2011’s NAIAS arrived with quite a bang, with over 500 cars from around 35 manufacturers on display. Kevin Willemse recaps some of the highlights in this first installment.

Mercedes Benz had their stand full with a showing of their various BlueMotion and F-Cell hybrid and fuel cell driven models, most notably the S350 BlueMotion, which will be offered as diesel-only to the US in a bid for this market to cotton on to the diesel option. The likes of BMW, Jaguar and Audi have yet to offer range-topping diesel derivatives of their luxury saloons, so it is a brave step by M-B and one that we naturally think is fantastic, considering that the USA somehow still seems hell-bent on large petrol lumps.

Right next to it, stealing most of the spotlight, was M-B’s long promised Lithium-Ion full-electric E-Cell driven SLS, in all its lime-green splendour. The subject of much discussion and hype, the SLS uses an electric motor at each wheel to deliver 391kW and almost 900Nm of torque, delivering blistering pace and driving habits that warrants its AMG badging. Mercedes Benz, while tight lipped about projected ranges, costs and recharge times, has still committed itself to taking orders for the SLS E-Cell in 2012. The latest SLK that was recently “officially leaked” online was not debuted as expected, but should be revealed in the flesh soon.

Further down the hall, BMW had their latest 650i convertible on display with its softened lines, 19-second fabric roof and 10.2-inch on-board display to navigate the i-Drive system. Under the hood lies a 300kW V8 with an option of manual or 8-speed auto transmission (the international launch is taking place in Cape Town in February).

However, like the aforementioned SLS, the 1-Series M Coupe was stealing the stage and blinding visitors not only with its retina-scorching orange paintwork, but also with its bulbous bodywork and generous spec sheet.

Developing 253kW from their famed 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six, puts the “unofficial M1” into the hallowed M3 league, something BMW openly admit.

BMW’s X6 Active Hybrid was also on show, but unfortunately, their Vision EfficientDynamics showpiece (which may be branded the “i8” when it goes on sale circa 2013) was absent. In a (not so) funny incident, BMW was not amused when one of their showstoppers, a 760Li, was stolen while being loaded up for NAIAS transportation.

Fortunately the R1.65 million flagship is equipped with BMW Assist, which can locate a stolen BMW, so it should turn up soon – a happy turn of events that will probably be mentioned in BMW’s subsequent Detroit marketing campaigns.

Sticking with the Germans, Audi had a good showing of 2012 models with the super-efficient diesel A6, accompanied by the various petrol engine derivatives as well as their proposed matching hybrid model, taking pride of place. This model uses Audi’s 2.0-litre TFSi engine as well as a modest 33kW electric motor to drive the front wheels. While the battery capacity, gains and power outputs on offer by the electric motor are small (using the electric engine alone will see you doing 100km/h for 3km), as a package it offers good petrol consumption of around 6.2-litres/100km. The A1 also had a good showing alongside the R8 GT, TTRS and other performance models, including the spectacular RS3, destined for South Africa later this year.

Rounding off the Teutonic bunch was VW. Their large new Passat, looking like a handsome but puffed up executive Jetta, took pride of place and should be very competitively priced since VW wants the car to become a leader in their quest to slake the US market’s thirst for large, soft luxury saloons. On that note, the Jetta 6 also shared the stand with information lurking about regarding a high performance GLi version to be made available to the US soon. Good timing too, as VW is currently servicing a 380 000-car recall for a potential fuel line leak problem across mostly its Jetta range. Also speaking of which, the Jetta 6 should be in South Africa very soon, with the normal range of TDi, TSi and petrol engines on offer, also said to be (comparatively for SA) very well priced.

Hatchbacks are not wildly popular in the US, so the Golf played second fiddle to its sedan stablemates.

VW have also signed a deal with Fender (they of guitar legend fame) to provide select 2012 models with a premium 9-speaker audio system. While all this was going on, further South their Touareg was (and still is) cleaning up the desert floor in the 2011 Dakar rally. Speaking of VW, Group Executive Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen

used the NAIAS show as a chance to relinquish his position as CEO of Bentley to Wolfgang Durheimer, a move which, due to corporate shuffling in the VW ranks, also sees Durheimer as the new head of Bugatti, also owned by VW.

Naturally the American car makers, seemingly healed and discharged after the battering and bruising sessions of 2009 and 2010, made a meal of their home-grown fair, even showing off smaller engined, fuel efficient hybrids and electric models. Trying to understand and contextualize the inbred family tree of the American auto brands is almost impossible. Besides, give it a month and all will have changed anyway, so here are some of the various individual brand offerings‌

First off, Chrysler’s big news was the eventual (at a rumoured cost of US$1 billion) redesign of their 300C gangstermobile (now known only as the 300), with the more laid-back version unveiled at NAIAS. While it still features a squared off back and high waistline that all good drug dealers adore, the front end has been significantly toned down with rounded LED headlights and a narrower, less menacing chrome grille (i.e. boring; look out for a gangster old school replacement on sale at your local tuning store soon). The interior has thankfully

had a quality rehash and the new 300 is now powered by a more efficient 220kW V6 (a Hemi version is surely in the wings). The new spec Grand Voyager also lumbered onto the floor to the delight of McDonalds branches everywhere.

Chrysler-owned Jeep showed their all-new Compass model and celebrated their birthday at the show with their limited edition “70th Anniversary” Liberty and Grand Cherokee models, which will have bespoke paintwork, luxurious interior options and detailed trim finishes which, garish as it sounds, makes for a beautiful package. Less show, more aggro, was their Call of Duty: Black Ops edition Wrangler next door; in two door, grey wheeled, winch-and-spade spec, with a slew of Mopar go-anywhere accessories and military insignia, it’s unpractical, noisy, thirsty, slow, expensive and pointless – I want one more than children, and so should you.

Read more in part 2.

- Kevin Willemse