Motoring Diversions
Detroit Retrospectives

If you're planning on visiting this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, remember to clear your schedule and bring your camera so you can take plenty of pictures to share with the rest of us. If you've already visted the show, feel free to share your photography and impressions of the show. What were your favorites? Your disappointements? The cars you lust and the cars that suck?

Share away!

NAIAS was truly awesome. Expect some pics soon guys! That enclave shot is just one of about 200 pics!

Motoring Diversions

Detroit Retrospectives

If you're planning on visiting this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, remember to clear your schedule and bring your camera so you can take plenty of pictures to share with the rest of us. If you've already visted the show, feel free to share your photography and impressions of the show. What were your favorites? Your disappointements? The cars you lust and the cars that suck?

Share away!

pffffff, 200? I have 300, haha not that it matters.

While you guys talk, Im posting....

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...showtopic=14851

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...st&p=240010

All mine are online... 100 images, five full pages:

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/

try this, see if it works

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q78/cien_2007/

10 cents to the first person who can tell what my favorite car was.

can't wait for Toronto!!!!

try this, see if it works

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q78/cien_2007/

10 cents to the first person who can tell what my favorite car was.

can't wait for Toronto!!!!

a) caddy cts

b) nice TV set

Here's a bunch of my thoughts on stuff that I liked, and stuff that I didn't:

MIA Mention: Jaguar C-XF

http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dl...56&maxw=490

Jaguar doesn't do a concept every year as some automakers do, but, when they do roll one out, it's a stunner. I still remember being wowed by the F-Type Concept at my first NAIAS way back in 2000, and I've never understood why they didn't build it. With that in mind, I was looking forward to seeing the C-XF and snapping a ton of pictures. But one of the major concepts I was looking foward to seeing (not to mention winner of AutoWeek's "Best in Show" award) was nowhere to be found. There was a huge, two-story platform with an enormous video display behind it. But, instead of the C-XF, there were two XK-Rs on display instead. This was a huge letdown for me.

So, having said that, there was only one car that could possibly be...

Best Concept: Ford Interceptor

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168994497

I know it's only following where the Chrysler 300 led, and the 427 Concept did the same thing a couple years ago. Still, I couldn't help love this big, honkin', blue brick of a car. If Ford built this thing next year as a replacement for the Crown Victoria, they would sell every single one they make, especially if they keep that monster 5.0L. V8. How many times are Ford and GM going to make a concept like this before they realize that the public would love to buy one?

P.S: One thing I did not like about the Interceptor: The "razorblade" grille that Ford seemed to be adopting on all their models was cheap, silver-painted plastic, rather than chrome like on the Fusion. It looks awful.

Worst Concept: Mazda Ryuga

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...994964%5burl%5d

I was stoked to see the Ryuga, too, especially after its sibling, the Senku, recieved a glorious write-up in Motor Trend. I expected a car with flowing features and lines that danced and rippled in the light. What I saw was a car that looked like a giant, bright-red Potato. With 22-inch wheels. If this is Mazda's new design philosophy, I don't like it. How about a little more actual "flow" and a little less Japanamation?

Best Production Car: Cadillac CTS

Like%20I%20said%20earlier:%20If%20you've%20written%20off%20GM%20as%20being%20terminally%20ill%20and%20doomed,%20it's%20time%20to%20crawl%20out%20from%20underneath%20your%20rock.%20The%20new%20CTS%20is%20not%20only%20a%20match%20for%20its%20competitors,%20but%20it%20beats%20a%20few%20of%20them%20in%20a%20large%20way.%20To%20start%20off%20with,%20the%20new%20uplevel%20motor%20is%20a%20re-invigorated%20version%20of%20the%203.6L.%20V6,%20now%20featuring%20Direct%20Injection%20and%20VVT,%20pushing%20out%20somewhere%20around%20300%20horsepower...%20right%20up%20there%20with%20the%20335i,%20G35,%20and%20IS350.%20Secondly,%20GM%20spend%20a%20lot%20of%20money%20on%20the%20interior%20of%20this%20car,%20and%20it%20shows.%20It%20is%20no%20longer%20an%20embarassment%20to%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20car,%20and,%20honestly,%20I'd%20take%20it%20over%20the%20teutonic%20blandness%20of%20the%20BMW%20or%20the%20tarted-up%20Camry%20look%20of%20the%20IS.%20Lastly,%20the%20Cadillac%20truly%20has%20a%20style%20all%20its%20own%20with%20Art%20&%20Science.%20When%20I%20first%20saw%20the%20original%20CTS,%20I%20hated%20it.%20However,%20as%20time%20grew%20on,%20I%20grew%20to%20like%20it,%20not%20only%20in%20an%20aesthetic%20sense,%20but%20for%20what%20it%20represented.%20This%20is%20the%20first%20time%20in%20decades%20that%20the%20entire%20Cadillac%20lineup%20has%20had%20a%20unified%20theme%20across%20all%20models...%20and%20that%20can%20only%20be%20a%20good%20thing%20for%20the%20brand.%20

Honourable%20mention%20goes%20to%20the%20new%20Accord.%20Like%20the%20first-gen.%20CTS,%20I%20think%20this%20car%20will%20really%20re-invigorate%20a%20stale%20brand%20(considering%20the%20history%20of%20the%20Accord%20model,%20I%20think%20it's%20fair%20to%20call%20it%20a%20"brand").

Worst%20Production%20Car:%20Dodge%20Avenger

%5burl=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/ModelDodgeAvenger.jpg?t=1168996458%5dhttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168996458" target="_blank">http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/CadillacCTS.jpg?t=1168995464://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168995464</a>

Like I said earlier: If you've written off GM as being terminally ill and doomed, it's time to crawl out from underneath your rock. The new CTS is not only a match for its competitors, but it beats a few of them in a large way. To start off with, the new uplevel motor is a re-invigorated version of the 3.6L. V6, now featuring Direct Injection and VVT, pushing out somewhere around 300 horsepower... right up there with the 335i, G35, and IS350. Secondly, GM spend a lot of money on the interior of this car, and it shows. It is no longer an embarassment to the rest of the car, and, honestly, I'd take it over the teutonic blandness of the BMW or the tarted-up Camry look of the IS. Lastly, the Cadillac truly has a style all its own with Art & Science. When I first saw the original CTS, I hated it. However, as time grew on, I grew to like it, not only in an aesthetic sense, but for what it represented. This is the first time in decades that the entire Cadillac lineup has had a unified theme across all models... and that can only be a good thing for the brand.

Honourable mention goes to the new Accord. Like the first-gen. CTS, I think this car will really re-invigorate a stale brand (considering the history of the Accord model, I think it's fair to call it a "brand").

Worst Production Car: Dodge Avenger

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168996458://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168996458

Well... The Dodge model was hot. And that's about it. Anybody who can't tell that this mini-me, FWD Charger is a raging pile needs an eye exam. It will always be incomprehensible to me how this company can come out with huge home runs like the LX cars and the new Minivans and then turn around and roll out fleetmobiles like this. It's sad. The only redeeming feature of this car is that it will likely be a few grand cheaper than the nearly identical Sebring. If you're gonna drive a pathetic vehicle like this, you might as well save a few bucks.

Nice Guys Who Finished Last: Kia Kue & GMs Butterflies

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168997063://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168997063

As you can see, the display for the Kia Kue was pretty much totally deserted. It's a pity, because I actually thought it was pretty cool. In the future, I would recommend against putting the Kia display right next to Aston Martin... what a strange juxtaposition, eh?

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168997319

It pained my heart to see so many people walking by this display without so much as looking as it. It's obvious that somebody at GM (maybe the guy behind the curtain?) went to a lot of trouble and care to set up this display. And it was really quite beautiful and somewhat magical in real life. The picture barely does it justice, but it does preserve the memory of the little, quiet things that no one ever knows.

Edited January 17, 200719 yr by Petra

P.S: If anybody can figure out how to get the actual images to post in my previous entry, that would be great. For some reason, I got an error saying that I couldn't use the "" tags. Then, when I tried to edit, I got the good 'ol 500K internal server error.

Thanks for the pics Petra. That one image of the dark blue NG Vue actually looks quite nice. Also when I was looking at the Accord coupe concept, I'm not sure if you used a different lens or something but the car's tailights looks tiny! The front end however is definitely better looking in your photos than the press photos from Honda.

Here's a bunch of my thoughts on stuff that I liked, and stuff that I didn't:

MIA Mention: Jaguar C-XF

http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dl...56&maxw=490

Jaguar doesn't do a concept every year as some automakers do, but, when they do roll one out, it's a stunner. I still remember being wowed by the F-Type Concept at my first NAIAS way back in 2000, and I've never understood why they didn't build it. With that in mind, I was looking forward to seeing the C-XF and snapping a ton of pictures. But one of the major concepts I was looking foward to seeing (not to mention winner of AutoWeek's "Best in Show" award) was nowhere to be found. There was a huge, two-story platform with an enormous video display behind it. But, instead of the C-XF, there were two XK-Rs on display instead. This was a huge letdown for me.

So, having said that, there was only one car that could possibly be...

Best Concept: Ford Interceptor

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168994497

I know it's only following where the Chrysler 300 led, and the 427 Concept did the same thing a couple years ago. Still, I couldn't help love this big, honkin', blue brick of a car. If Ford built this thing next year as a replacement for the Crown Victoria, they would sell every single one they make, especially if they keep that monster 5.0L. V8. How many times are Ford and GM going to make a concept like this before they realize that the public would love to buy one?

P.S: One thing I did not like about the Interceptor: The "razorblade" grille that Ford seemed to be adopting on all their models was cheap, silver-painted plastic, rather than chrome like on the Fusion. It looks awful.

Worst Concept: Mazda Ryuga

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...994964%5burl%5d

I was stoked to see the Ryuga, too, especially after its sibling, the Senku, recieved a glorious write-up in Motor Trend. I expected a car with flowing features and lines that danced and rippled in the light. What I saw was a car that looked like a giant, bright-red Potato. With 22-inch wheels. If this is Mazda's new design philosophy, I don't like it. How about a little more actual "flow" and a little less Japanamation?

Best Production Car: Cadillac CTS

<a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/CadillacCTS.jpg?t=1168995464://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168995464</a>

Like I said earlier: If you've written off GM as being terminally ill and doomed, it's time to crawl out from underneath your rock. The new CTS is not only a match for its competitors, but it beats a few of them in a large way. To start off with, the new uplevel motor is a re-invigorated version of the 3.6L. V6, now featuring Direct Injection and VVT, pushing out somewhere around 300 horsepower... right up there with the 335i, G35, and IS350. Secondly, GM spend a lot of money on the interior of this car, and it shows. It is no longer an embarassment to the rest of the car, and, honestly, I'd take it over the teutonic blandness of the BMW or the tarted-up Camry look of the IS. Lastly, the Cadillac truly has a style all its own with Art & Science. When I first saw the original CTS, I hated it. However, as time grew on, I grew to like it, not only in an aesthetic sense, but for what it represented. This is the first time in decades that the entire Cadillac lineup has had a unified theme across all models... and that can only be a good thing for the brand.

Honourable mention goes to the new Accord. Like the first-gen. CTS, I think this car will really re-invigorate a stale brand (considering the history of the Accord model, I think it's fair to call it a "brand").

Worst Production Car: Dodge Avenger

%5burl=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/ModelDodgeAvenger.jpg?t=1168996458%5dhttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168996458" target="_blank">http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/CadillacCTS.jpg?t=1168995464://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168995464</a>

Like I said earlier: If you've written off GM as being terminally ill and doomed, it's time to crawl out from underneath your rock. The new CTS is not only a match for its competitors, but it beats a few of them in a large way. To start off with, the new uplevel motor is a re-invigorated version of the 3.6L. V6, now featuring Direct Injection and VVT, pushing out somewhere around 300 horsepower... right up there with the 335i, G35, and IS350. Secondly, GM spend a lot of money on the interior of this car, and it shows. It is no longer an embarassment to the rest of the car, and, honestly, I'd take it over the teutonic blandness of the BMW or the tarted-up Camry look of the IS. Lastly, the Cadillac truly has a style all its own with Art & Science. When I first saw the original CTS, I hated it. However, as time grew on, I grew to like it, not only in an aesthetic sense, but for what it represented. This is the first time in decades that the entire Cadillac lineup has had a unified theme across all models... and that can only be a good thing for the brand.

Honourable mention goes to the new Accord. Like the first-gen. CTS, I think this car will really re-invigorate a stale brand (considering the history of the Accord model, I think it's fair to call it a "brand").

Worst Production Car: Dodge Avenger

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168996458

Well... The Dodge model was hot. And that's about it. Anybody who can't tell that this mini-me, FWD Charger is a raging pile needs an eye exam. It will always be incomprehensible to me how this company can come out with huge home runs like the LX cars and the new Minivans and then turn around and roll out fleetmobiles like this. It's sad. The only redeeming feature of this car is that it will likely be a few grand cheaper than the nearly identical Sebring. If you're gonna drive a pathetic vehicle like this, you might as well save a few bucks.

Nice Guys Who Finished Last: Kia Kue & GMs Butterflies

<a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petra_87/NAIAS%202007/KiaKue.jpg?t=1168997063" target="_blank">http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168997063://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168997063</a>

As you can see, the display for the Kia Kue was pretty much totally deserted. It's a pity, because I actually thought it was pretty cool. In the future, I would recommend against putting the Kia display right next to Aston Martin... what a strange juxtaposition, eh?

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Petr...pg?t=1168997319://http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y1...pg?t=1168997319</a>

It pained my heart to see so many people walking by this display without so much as looking as it. It's obvious that somebody at GM (maybe the guy behind the curtain?) went to a lot of trouble and care to set up this display. And it was really quite beautiful and somewhat magical in real life. The picture barely does it justice, but it does preserve the memory of the little, quiet things that no one ever knows.

I completley agree with you about the Jag concept. What good does that do them to not show it? I was really looking foward to seeing it. As far as the Mazda Ryuga goes, i really thought it was a piece of work. It was probably my second favorite concept there to the Volvo XC60 concept.

Here's a bunch of my thoughts on stuff that I liked, and stuff that I didn't:

MIA Mention: Jaguar C-XF

Agree. Was looking forward to seeing it too.

Best Concept: Ford Interceptor

100% agree. And I dont like Ford. The thing has baked in Galaxie cues if you look closely. The grille even remotly resembles a 1969 Galaxie.

Worst Concept: Mazda Ryuga

I only glanced at it, but it wasnt that bad.

Best Production Car: Cadillac CTS

100% agree. Showing it in red was a great move too!

Worst Production Car: Dodge Avenger

Eh, the "all-new" Mazda Tribute would get my award for worst. Totally redundant and pointless, except you get the Ford Hybrid system.

Nice Guys Who Finished Last: Kia Kue & GMs Butterflies

The GM display with multi-screens and light walls was amazing. Truly great work went into it.

try this, see if it works

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q78/cien_2007/

10 cents to the first person who can tell what my favorite car was.

can't wait for Toronto!!!!

Hmm.... wonder if there were any other vehicles at the Auto Show. Looks like you're first in line for a new CTS.

Alright.... I finally made my way to Detroit and back! Here is a link to my album, courtesy of Webshots.

NAIAS 2007

Edited January 22, 200719 yr by RangerVT

My full NAIAS 2007 album:

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/iiiTEDiii/NAIAS2007/

The auto show was great... except for this unfortunate sight. I couldn't seem to escape this guy who ended up in many of my pictures.

I tried to look away, but, like a sinking ship, I felt compelled to watch.

It was disturbing..... Other than that, I had a good time.

The auto show was great... except for this unfortunate sight. I couldn't seem to escape this guy who ended up in many of my pictures.

I tried to look away, but, like a sinking ship, I felt compelled to watch.

It was disturbing..... Other than that, I had a good time.

LMAO what a silly fool...