German Car Zone

This year seems to have been more crowded than in recent years, maybe because I went on the first public day. It was very tough to get good pics this year, but I stil managed to get some great shots. I will posts the pics in a day or so. Now down to the business:

Jaguar - The XF concept wasn't present. It was only for the preview days. They did have the new XKR on display, it was a beautiful as I'd seen in pictures. Without seeing the XF concept there wasn't much to do at Jaguar but look at their classically good looking, but familiar cars. It is time to for Jaguar to go in a new direction though for sure, the XJ looks a little to "classic" (i.e. dated) at this point.

BMW - BMW is slowly but surely coming back around to being my second favorite. They've knocked the new X5 out of the park. From the exterior to the interior this new X5 is seriously good looking, but don't kid yourself about it being able to seat seven, because it can't. That "third" seat isn't even fit for most kids let alone adults. That said I love this truck just like I did the first one back in 2000 and it blows the ML (save the ML63) out of the water. The new BMW 3-Series convertible looked a little awkward in pics, but it looks fine in person, top up or down. The top up profile is a little boxier compared to the Coupe. The cure for the 6-Series is the M6, specifically the M6 convertible, stunning car. This year all the M cars wore white and they cast an impressive figure. The little Z4 M Coupe surprised me by also looking great on the stand. Last but not least is the 3-Series coupe, also hot. Still don't like the 7-Series no matter how fancy they make them, because now you can get your 7-Series done up by BMW's "Individual" outfit. Customer leather, wood and paint. Still doesn't work. Overall I'm slowly but surely coming back around to BMW. Love the M6 convertible, likely my favorite BMW at the moment, some acheivement considering how hot the 335i Coupe and X5 4.8i are!!!

Cadillac - The new CTS is very impressive. It has a deep grille like an Audi and the overall styling is much more together and cohesive than before. Kinda what BMW has done with their look from 7-Series to the new 3-Series, it has gotten better looking. The CTS was roped off and locked so there was no touching of the interior, but I can tell you that it looks so much better than before. I still like the STS-V to a degree, but not much else at Cadillac to get excited about.


Audi - Here is a company on the move, with the best looking lineup of any carmaker from top to bottom. They had 2 Q7 diesels there. The 6-cylinder 3.0TDI and of course the concept V12 TDI concept. The V6 TDI Q7 "may go on sale" next year. The V12 concept has a look to die for, deeper grille and huge wheels give it an aggressive stance that the regular Q7s can't match. Then you have the RS4, S6 and S8, all gorgeous, brandishing their swank engines and stuffed to the gills quality interiors. The S6 in particular has some of the best seats I've ever sat in. Their winning diesel racecar was there also, a nice touch. Now for their headliner, the R8 supercar.....gorgeous! This is just the image builder Audi needs in the U.S. Now if they make the next A4 equally as alluring they'll have the image and sales they need.

Rolls-Royce - Nothing prepares you for the first time you see the Phantom Drophead Coupe. OMG is the car so over the top. The teak wood top cover and stainless steel hood and winshield surround are just sick! Be sure to check the 2007 Autoshow pics thread in a few days on the News and Views for this one. The rear opening doors and the sheer size of the thing creates an unbeatable presence. Look for this one to be all the rage with the athelete/hip hop crowd as well as the old-money rich.

Aston-Martin - A very strange and bare display. The only car they had their were the new V8 Vantage Roadster. There was no DBS or DB9 of any kind there. Their display was just some black sand and some pics on the rear wall of their lineup, very unusual. I know Ford is trying to sell Aston-Martin but come on. AM reps didn't even have a podium, they just sat there in chairs!!! The was no seperate glass area this year for private viewing for pontential customers.

Mercedes-Benz - I didn't like the Ocean Drive Concept. Reluctantly, I admit that like Rob said it looks too much like a Bentley or Cadillac. Not ugly by any means, but it is way too flashy and gaudy for a Mercedes-Benz. I do like the concept of a 4-door convertible only if the structural rigidity issue can be resolved. However they've got to tone this thing down before production. It does look equally balanced top up or top down though. I didn't think it would since the top is so huge. The GL420 Bluetec's grille is a direct response to the American market's "bling" factor, to say that it is huge is to state the obvious. According to the reps there the GL230, GL420, R320, ML320 Bluetec models will all go on sale in roughly a year from now in the U.S. Along with the existing E320 Bluetec these will be all be 50-state certified. A S320 or S420 Blutec is being "studied" for the U.S. market. The real stars of the Mercedes stand were the AMG vehicles in a seperate enclosure. The CL63 being the star of the show. The new CL is somewhat plain looking without the AMG trim, moreso than the previous CL so the AMG changes are more dramatic. The CL63 looks so right from kit to wheels. They also had the new S63 on display along with the E63 and ML63 (the only ML I'd want). There wasn't a C-Class in sight, guess they'd like you to forget about it since the official 08' pics are due on the 19th of this month. The S, SL, CLS and E were all still as impressive as ever considering how familiar they are now.

Lexus - I was more impressed with Lexus this year than ever before. The LF-A concept is hot and should make the first true lust object from Lexus. More on it later. My favorite production Lexus is still the IS350. I actually spent more time in the LS460L here than I did at the TOL event. I'm finding myself liking the LS460L more and more. The looks go in and out with the color and style of wheel, and there are a ton of buttons everwhere, but I can somewhat see the appeal for those who like it. This LF-A sports car represents the first time I've ever walked into an autoshow with a Lexus on my "must see" list. It didn't let me down either. Much better looking than the original concept, all that needs to be done is tone down the front end. I love the rear cooling vents under the brake lights. The car was displayed on one of those up high rotating turntables so you really couldn't see much of the interior. I have high hopes for this car when it reaches production. The IS-F on the other hand was sort of a mess. The car looks very nose-heavy and the stacked rear pipes are not attractive. Neither is the giant hood bulge. It seems as if Lexus never intended to put a V8 in the IS because of all the surgery to get one to fit. A grand mess of a ricer is what it looks like in person.

Infiniti - The new G35 is nice, but the rest of the lineup is pretty much forgettable at this point. I still "like" the M35/45 and the FX, but my fascination with them is wearing thin with at this poiint. Other brands have m uch better looking lineups overall by far. Nothing but sketches of the next G35Coupe, the real star of their lineup IMO.

Acura - You kinda feel sorry for Acura after looking at Lexus and Infiniti. They are in reality a collection of really nice Hondas with not one looker in sight.

Porsche - The new Cayenne still looks best in Turbo trim only, just like before. Porsche didn't allow anyone to sit in the Turbo. The new 911 GT3 and GT3 RS were there for the hard-core 911 fans. I'd have a Carrera 4S Cabrio or Turbo myself. The Cayman and Boxster didn't disappoint either. The Carrera GT is out of production now so of course it wasn't there....sigh.

Bentley - The new Azure as impressive as it is, gets upstaged quite easily by the Rolls DHC. The Azure is still as timeless as ever and looks the part though, but the Rolls is just I dunno. My favorite Bentley, the Arnage T wasn't there. The new Continental GTC droptop was there in a "unique" shade of brown that was very much an aquired taste, IMO. As many of you know I'm no fan of these new VW-based Bentleys, not because of their VW connection but because of their looks. The sedan, the Continental Flying Spur is the best looking one of the trio which doesn't say much. It being merely tolerable.

Maybach - Of course they had only the new 62S there, which of course drew a lot of oohs and ahhs, but I doubt if anyone bought one. I bet some rich folks there put deposits down or got literature on the Rolls PDHC. The 62S and 57S for that matter are what the 'Bachs should have been in the first place.


My favorite production and concepts, the show stoppers from the show this year in no particular order after #1.

1. Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - This car is so over the top, expect to it to cost about "400K" according the Rolls folks on hand. It was truly the star of the entire show for me.

2. BMW X5 - Inside and out, BMW has a hit on thier hands with this one. The best BMW interior going also.

3. Lexus LF-A - The first lust object from Lexus in the making. This is the car that could win Lexus some respect from the Euro-only crowd.

4. Audi Q7 V12 TDI - Awesome engine, interior, exterior, a killer package.

5. Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG - Stunning Mercedes coupe with the racecar engine. Knock-down good looking side profile and wheels too.

6. Audi R8 - Just like Lexus this is a crucial image car for Audi. A stunning sports car with all the typical Audi goodness. Audi had 2 stars on their stand, more than MB and BMW. The R8 should do wonders for their image here.

7. BMW M6 Convertible - For this package I can forgive the trunklid, a must have from BMW.

8. Ferrari 599GTB - A real Ferrari in every sense of the word. There has never been a sleeker Ferrari.

9. Cadillac CTS - A huge improvement over the previous car. Now if Cadillac could pull off such a transformation with the next round of replacements of their other cars they'd be on to something.

10. Toyota FT-HS - A surprise as I was prepared to dislike this car for a number of reasons. This concept looks much better in person that it does in pics. Sure the front end has a little too much going on, but it doesn't ruin the overall concept. I stood through the entire presentation, very impressive stats/drivetrain for the money.


Notes:

Aston-Martin's display was just awful for such a great marque. It was so bare and last-minute looking and their entire lineup wasn't there. The new V8 Roadster is gorgeous but gee whiz does selling the brand mean skimping on the display?

Mercedes had their 4Matic cars displayed on a floor made of real ice. No one fell while I was there..lol! They also had a wall of ice from the floor to ceiling with little "4Matic" badges embedded in it.

There is some life in GM, but I didn't see anything impressive at Ford. GM has a slew of new products on the drawing board and at the show that impress. The Saturn brand has but 2 more vehicles to dump, the garbage Ion and Relay minivan before they become GM's best brand. The new Cadillac CTS also shows that GM is capable of at least putting out a car that looks the part, both inside and out. We'll have to see how it drives and how well built it is.

Chrysler and Ford I'm not so sure about, they didn't seem to have any stunner on display except for the newly revised 600hp Dodge Viper. Ford's new Focus, which still isn't based on the European model, didn't impress. Neither did the re-grilled 500. I don't see much for them in the immediate future.

All I can think of for now...pics in a few.

M

Great post, Marcus. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, but my friend:



j/k... I know you need some time...

Thanks for the understanding about the pics, I promise the pics in one day. There are about 200 of them!

M

Take your time, man, take your time...

Awesome, karma given!

Finally, I'm working on the pics now!!!!!



More in a few. As they say, watch this space!!!

M

As promised, the 2007 Detroit Auto Show Pics:

Saab Aero Concept:





Lexus IS-F:





This will likely be a hot car for the Lexus faithful, but it too much of a jacked up ricer in real life for most MB/BMW/Audi buyers. The hood bulge and ground-dragging front end show that Lexus never originally intended for the IS to have a V8. It looks like a rush job.


One of my top 10 concepts of the show, the Lexus LF-A:





This car has such potential. Easily my favorite thing Lexus.


Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe:



This was the best car at the show for me, it is so ridiculously over the top. It drew more ooohs and aahhs than anything else on display and it likely was the most expensive thing there. Rolls-Royce kills Maybach and Bentley with this car!


Maserati Quattroporte Automatic (as if you can see the difference from the exterior...lol):




Lamborghini:






Bentley:





Neither of the Bentley convertibles, especially the Continental GTC have a change against the Rolls on curbside appeal. This particular Conti GTC wore a shade of Brown that was awful IMO.


Ferrari:



Though I'm not a fan of the 612 Scagletti, they did have a particularly sumptous one on display:




BMW:





All M cars wore White, in which they looked the part for real.

The new 3-Series Cabrio high atop Cobo Hall:




Porsche:



I think I like the Cayenne again, if only briefly. It and a forever favorite the 911:




Audi:





The R8 is a ridiculous car. I couldn't get enough of looking at it. Can't wait to see this thing at the local dealer! Then Audi had another stunner on hand, the Q7 V12 TDI:







The TT was mobbed, couldn't really get any good shots of it:



Audi's kick-ass diesel racer, a nice touch:



The Q7 diesel that we'll realistically get here in the U.S., the 3.0 TDI:





Mercedes-Benz:

My favorite Mercedes there, the CL63 AMG:



A particularly fetching Capri Blue ML63 AMG:



A plane-jane CL550:



An E63 AMG:



The Ocean Drive Concept:





I really didn't care for the Ocean Drive Concept at all. Sure it is attention getting, but Rob and others were right it doesn't look like a "Mercedes-Benz". It looks like it should have been a Maybach or a Bentley or even a Cadillac. Again, Mercedes' steering wheel designs piss me off with their sheer ugliness.

The GL420 Bluetec, yeah they're calling it a "Vision" so we know what that means! Look for it in a showroom near you in the first quarter of 2008:



All of the AMG cars were in a back room, very intimate, but hard to photograph. The S63 AMG:





Later in the evening MB locked up everything and I got some shots of the Ocean Drive Concept with the top up:



Hey old guy you're still on the team huh, the original "G", the G500:



The SLR:



M

Very nice Merc1, nice to see you start liking BMw again

you really like the RR droptop, huh!

Im not so sure about the golden colour for the convertible, did you like the colour?

More pics....

The award for most improved goes to the Cadillac CTS:







Cadillac like BMW came out with a new look that didn't "look" like anything to me, but also like BMW they have refined their look into something to look at. This new CTS is a good looking car inside and out, finally.


How SMART are you:



This was my first time really paying attention to this car, boy is it small. I dunno of this is going to fly with American car buyers. As you can see though, there seemed to be a lot of interest in it though.

Chrysler:

My favorite American sedan, the 300C SRT-8:



A car that is going to shock a lot of folks and one that is a real gamble for Chrysler, the new Sebring Convertible:



I dunno, it looks really wierd top up or down.

The (2008) Dodge Viper now has 600hp to better compete with the Corvette Z06:



Can you hear it hissing?


Maybach, the 62S:




The Honda Accord Coupe Concept:







The Volvo XC60 Concept:






Aston-Martin - The only car they had on hand was the V8 Roadster:





What was really shocking is how empty and bare their display was. Their reps didn't have a desk or podium or anything. There was no DB9 or DBS there either. The whole display looked as if it were thrown together at the last minute. I guess when you're up for sale this is what happens. You'd think they'd go all out to look impressive just in case any billionare investors (i.e. potential buyers for the brand) were walking around.


Jaguar - There was no C-XF concept on hand, it was for the press days only. The XKR was the only thing of interest to me:




Can one car save a company, better yet can a slew of cars based on a new RWD chassis do the trick? Ponder that while looking at the first of many RWD cars from GM, the Chevy Camaro..this year in convertible form:



Saturn Sky Red Line:




Mitsubishi EVO X Prototype:




Chrysler Nassau Concept:



This was supposed to be based on the CLS chassis??? I can't tell, but its interesting looking either way.


Some type of little Opel I didn't get the name of:



Think this is the basis for our next Saturn Vue SUV, in 4-door form of course.


One of my favorite concepts, a total surprise....the Toyota FT-HS Concept:







Cabron-Fiber everywhere, even in the wheels, I loved it. Unbelievable, there were 2 Toyota concepts that wowed me...what is the world coming too? If Toyota brings this to market at the right price there could be a Toyota in my future. Stunning.

M

Kick @$$ pics, Marcus. Thanks for sharing this with us, man...