2008 Auto Show Studs and Duds

Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept: Stud

Super cars often have racecar credentials, such as style, suspension, technology or, most importantly, the engine. So if you’re Audi, still riding high on the introduction of your V-8 powered R8 exotic sports car, what do you do for an encore? How about stuffing your monstrous racecar-derived 6.0-liter V-12 diesel under the clear engine cover? With 500 horsepower and an amazing 738 lb.-ft. of torque, it has the potential to catapult the R8 from mere exotic to timeless legend.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept: Stud

General Motors deserves props on a couple of levels with the CTS Coupe Concept. First, the car itself. Look at it. Drink it in. It builds on the lines of the CTS sedan currently causing a fuss wherever it goes, and makes them better. Will they build it? Save your pennies starting now to get one of the first. Almost as impressive as the car itself is the fact that GM was able to keep it a secret until it was actually driven onstage. We’d be remiss if we didn’t give honorable mention to the stunning 550-horsepower CTS-V, but the coupe...nice.

Chevrolet Aveo5: Dud

It’s not that we dislike the Aveo so much. It’s just that, in the subcompact class, there are much better offerings. Like, for example, um...everybody else’s car. It’s unrefined, slow, not very attractive, and didn’t offer as much driving pleasure for the money as, say, a Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris or a motorized wheelbarrow. To top it off, its estimated fuel economy is actually lower than the much larger and more comfortable Honda Civic (34 mpg vs. 36 mpg city). Chevy loyalists may flock to it, but smart shoppers will continue to look elsewhere.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Stud

With this car, GM says to the rest of the sports car world three simple words: Bring it on. After all, Chevrolet has built the most powerful Corvette in history by any measure. Everything about the ZR1 is amazing, from its 620 horsepower supercharged V-8 engine (that’s a minimum power estimate, by the way), to the extensive use of carbon fiber, to the aggressive cues that take the styling to the next level. Why the General chose a dark gray color and practically hid the thing in a corner is beyond us, but the bare chassis hanging nearby was very cool indeed.

Chevrolet Traverse: Stud

They say “You can’t get too much of a good thing.” and General Motors proves it by introducing the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse – the fourth variant of the critically acclaimed Lambda platform that has wowed critics in the guise of the Buick Enclave, Saturn OUTLOOK and GMC Acadia. GM appears to have entered an era where they seemingly can do no wrong and all that is left to do is rectify a few oversights, like the dying minivan market. Chevy couldn’t have asked for a better replacement for the beleaguered Uplander than this upscale, next-generation family-hauler.

Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrid: Dud

Yes, we know that we just voted the full-size Chevy Tahoe Hybrid our 2008 Editor’s Choice award for best hybrid. And, yes, we’re aware that the same basic technology exists here in the Aspen Hemi Hybrid. So why is one an award winner, while the other is a dud? Simple. The Tahoe is a truck that delivers on its promise of style, utility and comfort. The Aspen is a Durango with Chrysler badges on it. We were unimpressed with the Aspen when we drove it earlier this year, and we remain so now. Besides, a hybrid Hemi? You may as well dot the “i” with hearts.

Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept: Dud

In the interest of fairness, there is one significant highlight to point out as we discuss the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept’s dudness: Power comes from a lithium-ion battery pack and, as result, this four-door emits only water vapor. Not a bad move for the company that reintroduced the world to the Hemi. Unfortunately, introducing the ecoVoyager concept at a time when other companies are working on production models leaves Chrysler looking a bit out of the loop. But that’s not enough to warrant dud status. You can thank the awkward and just plain fugly styling for that.

Dodge Challenger SRT8: Stud

All good things come to those who wait...and wait... AND WAIT! It seems that waiting is all we’ve done since Dodge announced the Challenger Concept would actually go into production, launching the first salvo in the much anticipated muscle car wars. This doesn’t even take into account everyone who has waited for the Challenger’s return since it was last produced in 1974 (Enthusiasts don’t count those 1978-1983 models). Now that the 425-horsepower, Hemi-powered street machine is finally here and the video and photos in the press release feature tire-smoking burnouts, all we can say is: Yes, it was worth the wait.

Dodge Grand Caravan R/T Concept: Dud

Yes, we’re about to label another Chrysler debut an official Detroit dud, but there are plenty of other brands represented here, so don’t start formulating conspiracy theories. However, not one of those manufacturers decided to turn a minivan into a sport van. There was one lonely staffer’s voice heard defending the Dodge Grand Caravan R/T Concept, yet the majority disagreed and sealed the fate of this family-hauler. In particular, the bright paintwork, upgraded wheels and more aggressive overall appearance left our editors with the opinion that marrying the sporty R/T treatment to the most functional of all vehicles represented an unforgivable sin.

Dodge Journey: Dud

It’s not that the Journey is a bad car. On paper it sounds pretty nice. It’s just that pretty much every recent Dodge has sounded good on paper, but been significantly compromised on pavement, and there lies the rub. See, the Journey is based on the same platform as the Dodge Avenger, a car that left us cold time and again. The powertrain is pulled from the new minivans, including the schizophrenic six-speed automatic transmission. Inside, well, we’ve seen a lot of gray plastic in recent Dodge products, and we see a lot more here. Note to Dodge: A crosshair grille does not make a winning crossover.

Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR: Stud

Let’s make this simple for you. 600 horsepower. Track-ready suspension. Styling that’s so in-your-face that’s practically shouting nose-to-nose at you. You can even order it with the air conditioning deleted to save a few pounds. The ACR is the race version of the Viper, the one you buy when you’re ready to shuck all the pretense and really wring out your skills against fellow pros. It’s not for everyone, but then again, neither is the Viper. So why is it a stud? It’s an even badder-ass Viper. How could it not be a stud?

Dodge ZEO Concept: Stud

While a lot of the news coming out of the new Chrysler corporation is a little dim, to say the least, the Dodge ZEO (Zero Emissions Operation) Concept was a bright orange flame that caught our attention in all the right ways. From the innovative scissor doors, big glass roof and sport wagon body to the cool sloping center stack and, of course, the lithium-ion battery pack that’s good for 250 miles and 7-second 0-60 mph times, there’s a lot to like. But one of the coolest features is the chrome Dodge crosshair grille treatment, which is almost subtle here save for the blue backlighting, a nice touch.

2010 Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid

There’s a lot of talk about luxury cars with environmental angles on them...BMW’s been showing us hydrogen powered 7 Series for years now. Yet here’s Fisker, a small coachbuilder, teaming up with Quantum Technologies for the first plug-in hybrid luxury sedan. The look is somewhere between Aston Martin, BMW Z8, Alfa Romeo 8C and a few other cars, but it looks striking in its own right. With a range of up to 650 miles, sub six-second 0-60 times and a 125 mph cruising speed, it has the luxury and performance credentials to back up its looks, regardless of how it’s powered.

Ford Edge Sport: Dud

A Ford Edge Sport? Does it offer more power then the base model? No. Sport-mode transmission? Nope. Sport-tuned suspension? Nuh-uh. The only sport you’ll find in the new Edge is the sport Ford will have with people who’ll buy it. It’s all looks with no performance upgrades and looks are what get people onto the lot. But billing this window dressing as the Sport model is misleading, and Ford is duping less knowledgeable buyers who’ll see Sport and think it means performance. Edge Urban Edition would have been a better name and Sport should be reserved for a model that actually offers performance enhancements.

Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner: Dud

We don’t enjoy giving Fords poor marks. But a lot of Ford’s efforts are like that kid in the back row in grade school who just never really grasped any subject but lunch. He tried really hard, and you had to love him for it, but an A for effort does not make up for bad marks. Yeah, the new Ford Escape and its stablemate the Mercury Mariner are improvements over last year, but they just aren’t keeping pace with the rest of the class. Unfortunately, in the automotive industry, there is no summer school makeup session.

Honda FCX Clarity: Stud

Honda has put its money where its mouth is with the FCX Clarity. After announcing that it would build a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle based off the 2005 FCX Concept that was shown in Tokyo that year, it has actually done it. Admittedly, the Clarity will only be available in the Southern California region, where there is a relatively plentiful supply of hydrogen refueling stations...a whole three of them! However, if the company makes good on its development of home hydrogen refining stations, the Clarity’s sales could be completely unfettered. Going where no automaker has gone before is about as studly as it gets.

Honda Pilot Prototype: Dud

Yes, we are well aware of how well Honda has done with the Pilot over the years and, yes, we understand that barring any tectonic shifts in the buying habits of American consumers, the updated version pictured here will likely sell equally well. But that will be in spite of styling that left a few of our editors wincing. The front end treatment is exaggerated, the side profile is blocky and seems to take on a decidedly SUV appearance just when consumers are opting for the softer crossover look, and the tailgate bulges like the waistline of a McDonald’s frequent diner cardholder.

Hummer HX Concept: Stud

OK, we asked. Seriously, walked right up to Steve Kim, design manager for the Hummer HX Concept, and he told us that no, it wasn’t modeled after the Warthog military vehicle from the video game Halo. Instead, this E85-burning off-road machine is designed to take two people and their stuff as far as it can into the wilderness before running out of fuel. With a high-tech V-6 engine, removable body panels and unique looks that deftly play off Hummer styling cues without making it look like a miniature version of any existing vehicle, the HX is one of the coolest trucks at the show.

Hyundai Genesis: Stud

Ever since Hyundai announced the Genesis concept car a couple years ago, with the intention of entering the luxury segment, we’ve been waiting to see if the final product held up to the standards of its competition. Although we have yet to turn a wheel in the Genesis sedan, we have to say that we like what we’re seeing. The styling is spot on, maybe a little derivative, but luxuriously proportioned with not a line out of place. The interior is awash in visual and tactile pleasures, and the promised 375 horsepower from the V-8 engine will likely delight our sense of inertia, too.

Hyundai Genesis Concept Coupe: Stud

So we didn’t get the hoped-for 350-horsepower V-8 engine. Big deal. What we did get was a stylish coupe “concept” (it’s really the production car with an aftermarket-style body kit) with front-engine, rear-drive, a six-speed manual, sport suspension, and a 300 horsepower V-6 engine. Sound familiar? Maybe, Nissan Z-car familiar? Yes, the Koreans have taken aim at the famously lettered sports car, and on paper it looks like it could be darn close to a bull’s-eye. Not only is the Genesis Coupe studly in its own right, but the whole company is showing its studitude by producing such a car.

Jaguar XF: Dud

Poor Jaguar. It just wants to be loved, and it tries so hard. The fact that there’s so much riding on the XF sedan makes the fact that the nose looks like a 10-year-old Chrysler Concorde that much more painful. We’ll admit that it looks better in person, but it doesn’t have that special something, that “Jaguarness” that it so desperately needs. Instead, it looks like it could have come from the styling houses of Lexus or Infiniti. We’re guessing it’s an association that fans of leapers and growlers aren’t willing to make.

2009 Kia Borrego: Dud

It’s one thing for brands with a history of producing V-8 powered large suvs to update or introduce new models – they’ve already spent the capital, have the infrastructure in place, and likely have an established owner base to which the new ride can be marketed. That’s not the case for Kia and its all-new, V-8 powered, body-on-frame Borrego SUV. Putting this big rig in the hands of Rio and Sportage drivers, those who likely enjoy small- and efficient-car ownership, would seem to be a difficult task, as would be winning over buyers of well-established models such as the Explorer, Tahoe, and 4Runner.

Lexus LF-A Roadster: Stud

There was no fanfare accompanying the LF-A Roadster’s debut. No choir of singers, no jugglers or guitar players. Just a striking red sports car sitting at one corner of the Lexus display. Maybe Toyota ate up the dog-and-pony-show budget with its concepts and debuts. Maybe Lexus is just banking on the car’s good looks to draw attention. If it’s the latter, it worked. Specifics are few, but a 500-plus horsepower V-10 engine resides behind the front wheels ahead of the passenger compartment, and a top speed of 200 miles per hour awaits when the car eventually goes into production.

Lincoln MKS: Stud

One of our editors is so frustrated with Lincoln that it actually angers him that the company’s lineup is so dysfunctional. But wait...what’s this? A modern shape, clean lines, an interior that doesn’t look like it scraped the bottom of the Ford parts bin? This could be something good, and by all accounts, it is. Lincoln’s MKS breaks with the most recent tradition of doing little more than rebadging Ford products by giving the MKS a distinct character and style. We wish the V-8 would be available sooner, but for now, it’s good to see that Lincoln not only has a pulse, but that it’s strong.

2008 Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento: Dud

Let’s say you’re a guy who meets a beautiful woman at the store. You’ve been searching for quite some time, and finally you meet the one who’s sexy, fun, and sophisticated. And then you meet her mother who, once discovering you’re rich and not super rich, suggests that you try the other side of town for “your type of girl.” That’s the best way to describe the tone of Maserati’s debut of the Quattroporte Collezione Cento, as company officials explained that they would be targeting a demographic above the mere affluent. Count this one a dud not because of the car, but rather the elitist marketing message.

Maybach 62 Landaulet Concept: Dud

Maybachs haven’t really lit up the sales charts since being introduced, but they do fill a certain niche consisting of wealthy folks who commonly prefer being a rear seat passenger in their own car. There’s no arguing that when it comes to ultra-luxury transport, these Mercedes-on-steroids deserve their ranking within an elite group of rides. And now the company has gone one step further by crafting the Maybach 62 Landaulet, sure to be the choice of the world’s sun-worshipping, Grey Poupon-passing nobility. On the other hand, if you’re anything like us, you see one silly creation that’s an angry pigeon’s dream.

Mazda Furai Concept: Stud

For the past year, Mazda has unveiled some of the most beautiful concept cars we’ve ever seen. The Furai is the culmination, and it’s a runner, too. As in, it ran 160 mph at Laguna Seca shortly before the Detroit show. It looks like it’s going about that fast just sitting still on the stand. The swooping lines hide a purebred racecar chassis powered by, of course, a rotary engine. Yet the detailing on the body is astounding, with the leading edge of every swirl and curve you see on the front and rear lit from within. Imagine what it would look like at night.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA: Stud

Usually when a company releases a sketch of a car before its unveiling, it serves as a notice to be disappointed. The real car can never live up to the low-slung lines of the artwork, right? Wrong. Mitsubishi’s Concept-RA wowed us in person, and the sketch didn’t really do it justice. Looking a little like an Evo, a little like an older Eclipse and a little like an Audi R8, the RA is a showstopper. With a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine, all-wheel drive and that sleek coupe bodywork, we feel like we’re looking in the Eclipse’s not-too distant future. Please, let it be true.

Porsche: Dud

Those of you who have seen the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off may remember the scene in which homeroom teach Ben Stein calls “Bueller? Bueller?” Think of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show as the classroom and all of the attendees as Stein, except we were calling “Porsche? Porsche?” Company executives made the call to skip North America’s most important auto show this year, apparently because the brand sells so few cars in Detroit that the time and effort couldn’t be justified. Or something to that effect. Hmm. Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, and Chang Feng made their way to the show – guess that means all of Detroit’s F430s, Phantoms, and CS7s must’ve been hidden in private garages while we were in town.

Toyota A-BAT Concept: Dud

This approach at pickup design has been tried before by Honda, GM, Ford, and some would argue Subaru, but the only successful models have worn the Avalanche, Escalade EXT and, to some degree, Sport Trac badges. Honda’s Ridgeline takes the cake for visually least appealing, but somehow the Toyota A-BAT debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show puts that ranking in jeopardy. With odd proportions and headlights that appear to be eclipsed by a wide expanse of body work, Toyota’s forward-looking vision of a hybrid-powered, four-cylinder pick ‘em up gives us a glimpse of the future. Dude, it’s scary.

Volkswagen Routan: Dud

Volkswagen is no stranger to building oblong people-movers with models such as the Transporter, Bus, Vanagon, Syncro and Eurovan in its portfolio – each supporting a die-hard loyalist group. So, we are dumfounded as to why the German automaker turned to Chrysler for help for its latest foray into minivandom. The Pentastar builder does have a reputation for innovative features in the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan, but isn’t that what all those clever German engineers are for? Skip the rebadged Chrysler products and bring us an updated retro-look 16-window bus.