Buick unveils the wowza Avenir and a dud at NAIAS

The big surprise from Buick was the Avenir (French for future) concept car which is a thinly veiled version of the next LaCrosse.  My suggestion, dump the LaCrosse name and use this one.  This car is so totally different that it deserves its own name in history.

This was an odd reveal, private party the night before the NAIAS Press days began, not the usual hoopla grand reveal during press days.  Interesting.  The flagship sedan offers seating for four, full LED exterior lighting, and 21-inch wheels in its premium sports options.

Like Buick's of yore this has some unique design elements that I really like.  The traditional waterfall grill is there, split in the upper third by a too huge Buick emblem and a tasteful chrome rib continuing the hoodline at the head lamps.

The rear view is really nice as well. with a subtle point drawn from the windshield reminiscent at least of the '71-73 Riviera's and their boat tails.

But don't let my blathering color your opinion.  Buick got 2 Eyes On Design Awards for this car.
General Motors Global Design Team for the Buick Avenir concept car won EyesOn Design's Best Concept Award Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Director of GM Global Color and Trim Sharon Gauci , Design Manager Color and Trim, GM Australia, Jenny Morgan-Douralis, and GM Design Manager Buick Color and Trim Rebecca Waldmeir won EyesOn Design's Best Use of Color Award for the Buick Avenir.

Little was offered up in the way of power train and tranny options.  Best guess is it will be conservative with the 2.0L turbo four as standard and a V6 as an option.  Nothing stronger, as well, the true aggressive sport luxury brand for GM is Caddy, not Buick.  A shame as this car looks like it should have some real go power behind it.

Its a very nice looking concept that appears more production ready rather than a study in what the future could be.  Build it, give it its place in Buick History.

Now for the dud.  The Cascada.  A convertible sedan that's nice enough in appearance.  Its rated as a 4 seater, but with 3" between the front seat back and the cushion end of the rear seat only amputees will be placed in those rear seats.

The car just seems to be missing the mark on so many points.  The front end is molten pointy, not the crisp style and angles of the Avenir, or even lesser current production Buick's like the Regal that is already on dealership lots.  Its a near miss, the premise good, front seats and ergonomics are nice, but you get to the back seat and it all falls apart.  Sad, I had hopes for this car, but its really a rehashed Opel with a Buick emblem glued to the grill that doesn't even fit the bill with current Buick design language.  Equally Sad, is this car is a step back for a brand that has been moving forward and doing such nice cars the last few years.  We need Buick to succeed.

All pics by me.  More in my flickr album from 2015 NAIAS

Ford Upstages itself and others at NAIAS

This last Monday was the most dynamic and surprising Press Conference Reveal at any Auto Show I've ever been at.  Ford owned the show, they dominated the conversation of all the media upstaging other manufactures. We knew going into the show that for sure the Mustang GT 350R was going to be shown, our hosts at Ford were tight lipped as to what else we'd see.  We were blown away along  with the rest of the global automotive press.

The reveal itself was nothing short of amazing.  With Ford its about Innovation and Performance at this years North American International Auto Show.

First Ford introduced the new Raptor piggy backing the announcement a bit earlier in the day that the F-150 won North American Truck of the Year.  This promises to be the ultimate off-roading performance truck.  Here are some of the key features added into this truck above what is available on the F-150

• High Output 3.5L Ecoboost V6 producing more horsepower and torque than last years 6.2L V8
• First application of Ford's new 10 Speed Automatic
• Smart Terrain automatic four wheel drive
• Larger standard Fox Racing shocks with more wheel travel

Raptor was upstaged with the new Mustang GT350R,

"R" for racing, a track ready Mustang ready to go toe-to-toe with the Camaro Z/28 at a lower price point.  It gets the same upgrades as the Mustang GT350 revealed before our own Los Angeles Auto Show a few weeks ago.  Not able is that anything that added weight that wasn't required or optional it was deleted in the effort to reduce weight, including unsprung weight all to better its performance on the track.  Thinks like automatic wipers, rear seats, air conditioning and aluminum wheels were deleted all in an effort to reduce weight and increase competency on the race track.  This is the most powerful, track ready Mustang in the models history.
A few key features of the Mustang GT350R:

• Lighter than basic GT350 by 130 pounds
• Active aerodynamics, including front splitter to increase cooling and down force
• Aggressively tuned Magnaride suspension, first application in a Mustang, to excel on the track
• First mass produced automobile with standard carbon fiber wheels reducing unsprung weight by 50 lb while being stronger than the outgoing aluminum
• Michelin Sport Cup Tire specifically designed for the GT350R
• 5.2l Flat Plane Crank engine that is Ford's most powerful naturally aspirated engine.  Ever
• 6 Speed Tremec transmission with its own cooler

Upstaging the GT350R was a complete surprise.  The new Ford GT.

The Ford GT is about innovation and performance.  Its a hint at what is to come in production automobiles in the coming years.  It was about using innovation to create the Ultimate Expression of Ford Performance.  It completely upstage the Raptor, GT350R and every other car revealed at NAIAS this week.

The Ford GT also won the prestigious Eyes On Design Award. Eyes On Design, the official design awards for NAIAS, honors the best production and concept vehicles making global debuts in Detroit. Judges include current and former design leaders from global automakers and transportation departments at top art schools.

Some key features of the 2016 Ford GT...yes, they are building it...making it the Ultimate expression of Ford Performance:

• All-new Ford GT supercar sets new standards for Ford innovation through performance with advances in light-weighting, aerodynamics 
• Ultra-efficient EcoBoost engine Ford GT features the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever – a new twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 producing more than 600 horsepower 
• Carbon Fiber passenger tub with lightweight Suspension and Engine cradles directly mounted to the tub
• Sync 3 with Navigation
• Track proven torsion bar suspension
• Push rod suspension with fully active inboard dampers
• Carbon ceramic brake discs with 20" wheels

And they still weren't done.  The Focus RS, the fastest, most powerful expression of the hot hatch in the EU is going global next year and yes, we in the States are going to finally get our hands on this car.  YES!

No details were given on the specifics on the Focus RS being released next year.  It will be the subject of its own reveal at a press conference at a later date.  We do know we can expect something along the order of 300+ horsepower in an all wheel drive platform.  From a Focus!

The opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I was a guest of Ford Motor Company as "Digital Influencer" and they did provide my transportation and accommodations.  But like Bart Simpson, I beat to my own drummer and these words are all mine.

More pics of the 2015 NAIAS can be found in my flickr album.  As always, all pics and video are done by me unless otherwise noted.

North American Car of the Year and Truck of the Year announced

North American Auto Show kicks off its Press Days with this Award

Yes, its a big deal.  The Automotive Press as a group vote on the candidates and that is how this award is given  North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year awards carry much more weight than those awards given by individual media outlets.  Its collaborative, it doesn't involve just one outlets views or voice.

Volkswagen's GTI was the Winner of the North American Car of the Year.  No surprise, contrary to the popular belief 'muricans don't like hatchbacks.  We do, especially hot hatches that act and perform as leaders of the pack on the freeway or carving up a canyon, not some slouch poor excuse of a station wagon.  GTI does that, and does it very well at a price we can afford.  Nice job VW.  More pics of the GTI at the end of the article.

Truck of the Year was no surprise to me.  I recently reviewed it and was amazed on its refinement, almost luxury car build and feel than a truck.  Yes, its the Ford F-150.  Congrats Ford, you earned this one.  Innovation that works always is a winner.

Special thanks to my friend and CEO of 8 Asians, Joz, who provided me with the video clip of the F-150 being named North American Truck of the Year.  She was able to attend that ceremony as I was occupied elsewhere with my hosts for the event.

More pics of the NAIAS can be found in my flickr album.

Ford owns #naias with next gen GT

Packing the most powerful Ecoboost engine ever, the next generation Ford GT will be the most advanced vehicle showcasing future technology for the masses. 

A carbon fiber passenger cell is only the beginning. Aluminum subframes stronger and considerably ligher than their steel counterparts will be bolted to this tub for suspension and engine mounting. 

Highlighting this is a completely re-engineered Ecoboost 3.5l twin turbocharged V6 cranking out over 600 horsepower. 

Full report with video and pics will be uploaded when I return to Los Angeles. 

FYI...I'm here as a guest of Ford. they paid for my trip, but the opinions are all my own. 

Pecked out on my iPhone live from Detroit, please excuse any typos.