NEWSBREAK: SPECIAL AUTO SHOW REPORT

Motor,  Feb 2004  by Nash, Tom

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On the Chinese lunar calendar, 2004 is the Year of the Monkey, a symbol of intelligence and cleverness. Domestic automakers are hoping 2005 will be the Year of the Car. After years of focusing on trucks-sport/utilities and pickups-General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler are discovering that they may have ignored car buyers.

The result has been that the Big 3 have generally conceded the small car and sedan business to imports-mostly Asian-and are now making what they hope is an intelligent decision that won't leave them looking like monkeys. GM, Ford and Daimler/Chrysler will once again build extensive lines of passenger cars.

Of course, the domestic companies say they were only supplying what buyers have demanded. This is true to a certain extent, but while the domestic companies continued to pin their future on trucks, the Asian automakers have grown, prospered and profited by concentrating on cars. Now, the bigger, healthier Asian companies are tackling the last bastion of American vehicles-the fullsize pickup truck.

The North American International Auto Show, held in Detroit, the hometown of the Big 3, is the annual showcase of the industry on this continent. It shows the direction for the near future. While the other large U.S. auto shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York are aimed at the buying public, the Detroit show exposes the health and vigor of the U.S. automakers to the eyes of knowing engineers, industry experts and analysts.

Significantly, this year, GM, Ford and Chrysler not only gave the 6000 media attendees a preview of their 2005 (and some 2006) models, but also hinted at their styling and technological direction for the next several years. More than 60 new and concept vehicles were unveiled. Concept vehicles are no longer simply design exercises. They're carefully constructed to gauge what the media and public really think. If reacted to in a positive manner, they will be put into production.

These three pages give you a look at some significant new production vehicles, and some concepts that could roll into your shop someday.

Copyright Hearst Business Publishing Feb 2004
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