These days the auto industry has its mojo back and is firing on all cylinders. And at this week’s Detroit Auto Show, it showed off its new swagger by pulling the wraps off an array of terrific new metal, blogs Road Test Editor Howard Walker.
From a new small Cadillac, to a brand new version of Acura’s NSX supercar, above, to a super-sleek Lincoln sedan, Detroit was rockin’ with newfound excitement. After two days of walking the show, kickin’ tires and talking the talk during the media preview, here are my picks for the 10 Best of what’s new in the Motor City.
ACURA NSX
It was a sad day in 2005 when Honda pulled the plug on its NSX supercar. It wasn’t the fastest on the block, but this mid-engined two-seater was one of the finest handling sports cars ever built. Honda plans to re-capture some of that magic with an all-new NSX, badged, as before, as an Acura and scheduled to hit showrooms in 2013. Looking like a cross between an Audi R8 and a Ferrari 458 Italia, it’s powered by a mid-mounted 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 driving the rear wheels. But twin 27-horse electric motors on each front wheel will give the NSX all-wheel drive. One extra surprise: Honda plans to build it at its Marysville, Ohio plant.
LEXUS LF-LC
Yes, this wild two-plus-two sports coupe is a concept, but the word is that it shows the styling direction for a brand new version, due around 2015, of the now-deceased Lexus SC430. Designed at Toyota’s Calty studio in California, it’s all razor-sharp edges, Dali-esque headlights and massive mesh grille. Few details were given about what’s under the hood, apart from it being a hybrid. But take away some of the extreme styling and this could be one sleek and sexy luxury sports coupe.
MERCEDES-BENZ SL
While the photos of this all-new SL went out a couple of weeks back, seeing it for the first time in the metal only reinforced my original thinking that this is one gorgeous hi-lux sports car. With its body now crafted from lightweight aluminum and a new 4.6-liter, turbocharged V-8 under the hood delivering a truly massive 516 pound-feet of torque, this new SL should be a feisty performer. I’m a fan too of the new styling, with front-end cues from Merc’s SLS supercar. It goes on sale this spring with pricing from $105,000.
LINCOLN MKZ
Lincoln has been on Prozac for the past decade, with a lineup of worthy but snoozy offerings. But that’s all about to change, with seven all-new models due between now and 2014. First up - by late 2012 - will be the production version of this striking MKZ concept. Penned by Lincoln’s new super-talented Aussie design chief Max Wolff, this seriously svelte four-door sedan is going to grab the attention of the Lexus-Buick-Cadillac crowd. One very cool new feature will be a fully opening glass roof panel that slides back over the rear screen. But to enhance this bold new direction, how about we drop the instantly forgettable Z, X, S, and T badging and get back to real names, like Continental, Zephyr and Mark?
BMW 3-SERIES
The best just keep getting better. Just when you thought the evergreen 3-Series may be losing a little of its edge, along comes a new version to hold on to its crown. A little longer and wider to offer more space, it features a new turbocharged four-banger as its entry engine to replace the venerable inline-Six. Mated with a new eight-speed auto, this 240-horsepower 2-liter not only offers better performance than the previous 328i, but delivers a remarkable 36 mpg highway economy. Of course, for Six-addicts there’s still the 335i turbo inline-Six. As you’d expect, the new styling is evolution rather than revolution. But this is still one magnificent machine. Affordable too, with pricing from $35,795.
FORD FUSION
Here is, without a doubt, the most important automotive newcomer of 2012; a car that is going to set a soaring new benchmark in the family four-door sector. It will have Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, VW and Chevy wondering what hit them! Yes, this new Fusion is that good. Even without driving it, I’d buy one for the looks. Ford has blatantly copied Aston Martin to create a front end that screams “expensive.” But it doesn’t stop there; the whole car is super-classy and full of crafted, elegant detailing. Add to that a new line-up of high-economy four-cylinder engines. The upcoming Hybrid promises 47 mpg city and 44 highway and it will be hard to resist. It goes on sale this Fall with pricing from the high-teens.
CADILLAC ATS
While it’s just plain naive for Cadillac to start crowing that its new compact-sized ATS sedan is “the new BMW 3-Series fighter” - mark my words, it won’t be - it’s still a sweet package. Smaller than the CTS, it features GM’s new rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform with power from either a 2.0-liter 270-horsepower Turbo-Four or 3.6-liter 318-horsepower V-6. It’s good-looking too, with a bold CTS-style front and rear, though the base 17-inch wheels scream “entry-level”. No prizes for rear-seat space either. It goes on sale this Fall with prices starting in the high $20s.
PORSCHE 911 CABRIOLET
The good Herr Doctors at Porsche certainly don’t just hang around. The all-new 911 hasn’t even gone on sale yet and they’re showing off the new drop-top Cabriolet. No rocket science, or folding metal roof, here; Porsche faithfully sticks with its cloth top, which now retracts in just 13 seconds and at speeds up to 31mph. The Coupe goes on sale next month with the Cab following in time for summer, with prices starting at $108,950.
MINI ROADSTER
Arguably just as sexy as the new 911, but a whole lot more affordable, is Mini’s latest super-Cooper, the two-seat Roadster. Based on the funky and, to my peepers, rather ugly Mini Coupe, the cloth-top Roadster is much more lovable, with its pert, rounded rear and raked screen. Don’t confuse it with the Mini Convertible - this one has no rear seats. And you raise and lower the cloth top D-I-Y-style. Three versions will be available - Base 1.6, 1.6 Turbo S and John Cooper Works, with prices from $20,050. Too cute!
VW BEETLE E-BUGSTER
With the drop-top version of the new VW Bug still months away - they can’t build enough of the new hardtop versions down in Mexico - Volkswagen offered a little teaser with this concept Bugster. With its raked-back, cut-down windshield, removable carbon fiber top and big, blistered fenders covering cool 20-inch rims, the Bugster looks a blast. Of course, VW couldn’t resist giving it the requisite “green” cred, equipping it with electric power. In place of the rear seat, there’s supposedly a bank of lithium-ion batteries and rear-wheel-driving electric motor to give a zero-emission range of 100 miles. Maybe VW should skip the e-power and lift-off top and build the Bugster as a cool coupe to rival the new Mini Coupe.