Detroit 2009: Most Significant Vehicles of the Show
by John Neff on Jan 13th 2009 at 8:00PM 
With the state of the automotive industry and the wider economy, you could hardly blame us for expecting that this year's Detroit Auto Show would come off as cold and foreboding as the weather outside Cobo Hall. In reality, while the show's traditional glitz was definitely pared back, there was surprising depth on display, with a solid crop of new vehicle and concept introductions that point the way toward a bright future for the industry -- provided its players can navigate today's dicey waters. After taking it all in over the past few days, we've distilled down what we feel are the show's most important debuts, both production and conceptual. Click on the link below to launch our gallery list of the most significant vehicle rollouts at the show (in alphabetical by manufacturer order), and see if you don't agree.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Flashpoint 8:30PM (1/13/2009)
GM and Ford owned the show.
Its time for Chrysler to die though.
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Lar 8:41PM (1/13/2009)
Almost, Flashpoint. It bodes very well for the company if they actually produce cars like the 200C.
happy_penguin 9:49PM (1/13/2009)
All talk of death aside, that Chrysler 200C is awesome. I'd love to see that on the road. Hang in there Chrysler!
recharged95 11:53PM (1/13/2009)
Pretty bad then unfortunately...
That's considering Autoblog is posting 'best cars of the show' on the 2nd public day! A quiet NAIAS this year...
Rob 8:49PM (1/13/2009)
Maybe it's just me, but I hate this new ALL CAPS THEME IN AUTOBLOG. WHEN EVERYTHING IS IN ALL CAPS IT'S JUST LIKE OMG OMG OMG LOOK LOOK HERE LOOK LOOK ACT FAST OMG LOOK!!!!!!!!!!
TO PROVE MY POINT, I SHALL TYPE IN CAPS FROM NOW ON, WHENEVER I COMMENT ON AUTOBLOG.
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Mobius_1 9:01PM (1/13/2009)
yes, it is annoying...
...very annoying
and strangely enough, "autoblog" at the top of every page is not capitalised at all.
happy_penguin 9:49PM (1/13/2009)
Uh.... no. Don't.
Brian 9:55PM (1/13/2009)
Rob, me too.
I came here just to comment on the same thing. It's like I am looking at a tabloid headline. Then I have to click "CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM ALL" to see them.
I do want to see the most significant vehicles of the show, but it is annoying to see all the huge fonts and caps.
esteva03 9:58PM (1/13/2009)
yeah it is really annoying like
VOTE FOR AUTOBLOG!!! http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-major-blog/
LOL!!!
good thing the pool is over. second for 400 votes. :(
Greg 8:54PM (1/13/2009)
The Volkswagen BlueSport is easily the best car of the show.
If it were on sale, I'd be at a VW dealership right now.
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OKC08SKYRL 7:41AM (1/14/2009)
I would too if it had another 100hp.
Ligor 12:41PM (1/14/2009)
just get the Miata
they been doing that car right for ages now
this will surrely combine VW crapability and with their nice interior, but it wont do
Serge K. 9:05PM (1/13/2009)
So what's stopping GM from producing this hot Cadd?
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SNP 12:53AM (1/14/2009)
what's stopping ford from building a solarcell fusion
Temple 9:09PM (1/13/2009)
While I would like to say cool concepts like Converj is the most significant vehicle of the show, the reality is the Insight, Prius, and Taurus are probably the vehicles that will make the most impact in the automotive industry.
Concepts come and go, only when they are actually produced are they worth discussing. Some of the cars shown will likely take the step from concept to production, like the Volt, but it'll go through many iterations and be a very different car when it gets through the realities of production (...like the Volt).
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Luke GT. 9:34PM (1/13/2009)
I was interested in the 3rd generation Prius and the all new HS250h from Lexus.
Toyota and Lexus have done a good job with both vehicles and i believe they will sell quite well ... WELL DONE !!
Didn't mind the Ford Taurus either while i think everything coming from GM is downright awefully designed. GM undoubtdly make some the most horrid designed cars available.
Oh yeah, good to see the Camry is getting a new more powerful yet more efficent drivetrain aswell. Look forward to having a look although the V6 sports edition Camry is a much better drive.
ps. recently inspected the new Lexus IS-F ... what a beast, loved it !!
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Jake B 9:47PM (1/13/2009)
Shaddap yuppie.
Luke GT 10:20PM (1/13/2009)
Jake B - i am far from yuppie, just your typical everyday tradie with a Tacoma (work truck) and a Corolla (wheels for the wife) although i will admit i am interested in the direction of hybrid technology and not just from Toyota either but from them all.
As for Lexus, they make some of the finest cars in the world and i really like that new IS-F and even the IS350 for that matter.
SkiD666 11:08PM (1/13/2009)
Sure hope you aren't being serious.
Prius - good incremental evolution for people interested in this car
HS250h - horrible, exterior looks like a hybrid corolla with an interior that looks cheaper than the Prius, couldn't you have put some effort into it Toyota
Seriously, you are in a very small minority if you feel the Converj, SRX, LaCrosse, etc. are horrid designs.
snp 12:51AM (1/14/2009)
@Luke GT.
GM's design werent necessarily horrid. Just unrealistic. Kinda like their concept volt. No real thought in the engineering was considered.
However, why is the Prius considered a midsized sedan when it is 15inch shorter than the ford fusion, camry, or accord??? I dont like it when toyota does that, it downplays the significance of other hybrids. Prius is in reality a compact sedan that gets 50mpg @$22k. Fusion is a midsize sedan with 40mpg @$27k. That reason alone will make me think twice about other toyota products. They are trying to upsell the prius which dishonestly affects all other manufacturer hybrid brands.