| Detroit Auto Show ends Another all-American, or rather, world show has ended. America directed it, Japan and the advanced part of Europe took part. The show was called the 2002 Detroit Auto Show.
The world, and first of all the Americans themselves, has changed a lot after the “American tragedy of the third millennium.” But preparations for the salon began a long time ago, when nothing that happened in September could even have occurred to anyone. And therefore, the main bet has traditionally been placed on the increasing incomes of the middle class, and the calculation has been on the continued strong growth of the economy. Over the course of the year, the cars have become even more powerful, their acceleration and safety have improved. There has even been a trend towards increasing dimensions, especially among American manufacturers, and a continuing return to the “retro” style is obvious. It's external. The inside of the car is stuffed with the latest electronics, automation, navigation systems, and various servomechanisms to such an extent that quantity is about to turn into quality and the car, it seems, will soon drive itself, without a driver. In fact, visitors really saw the cars of the third millennium.
The new American dream was also voiced at the salon. US Secretary of Transportation Spencer Abraham announced the Freedom Car project. According to the plan of its participants, in ten to fifteen years, cars equipped with internal combustion engines will be consigned to the dustbin of history. The US administration began strong material support for three leading American corporations developing power plants based on hydrogen oxidation. The resulting energy will be used by electric motors. Such a car will be absolutely environmentally friendly, and “freedom” means complete independence from oil supplies with a related solution to Middle Eastern and other oil-regional problems. And at the same time, getting rid of Japanese competitors, who are still focused exclusively on internal combustion engines, although they have been brought to unimaginable serial perfection.
The presented concept cars, which will be implemented into production models in a year or two, are taken literally from Spielberg’s films. They look fantastic. But also expensive.
But this no longer quite fits into the current state of the American economy, when hundreds of thousands of highly paid jobs in high-tech companies are being eliminated. The prices for the cars on display don't bite - they just bite. The average price of a new car in Detroit in 2002 is approaching $40,000. So, with consumer demand, “the sky is dark.” But this is Detroit - not Brussels or Frankfurt, whose car dealerships attract buyers of different incomes. Fiat, for example, was not represented at all in Detroit - Americans have a downright pathological aversion to small cars.
The undisputed favorite of Detroit this year was the Cadillac Cien, which earned two prizes at once - for the best car design and for the best concept car design.
The best production car was the Lamborghini Murcielago. After ten years of production, production of the famous Diablo model, which was the most powerful and fastest among production cars, is discontinued. Diablo is being replaced by a new Satan called Murcielago. Lamborghini Murcielago will be equipped with a 580 hp engine. The Murcielago car was named after a bull that survived a multi-hour fight with bullfighter Rafael Molina in 1879. They decided not to kill this giant bull for his courage, and he founded a whole tribe of super bulls.
Chevrolet SSR was recognized as the best pickup truck. The best concept among all-terrain vehicles was the Jeep Compass, which was very popular with the younger generation of Americans. Nissan Quest won the award for best interior design.
The beautiful half of the American continent, according to a survey, preferred the Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Trail Blazer. American women love very big cars... As in that joke: “... everything is big in Texas, ma’am.”
By the way, 80% of American women who visited the exhibition (and a total of 760 thousand people visited it) are very optimistic and consider the coming year quite acceptable for buying a new car, although, on the other hand, 40% of women drivers plan to significantly reduce their car trips.
At the same time, when discussing the immediate prospects, representatives of the American corporations General Motors, Ford and Chrysler gave rather pessimistic forecasts. Speaking to journalists and experts at the auto show, they predicted a decline in sales this year by at least 10-15%. Last year, buyer activity, especially after September 11, was spurred by deep discounts and interest-free preferential loans. Sales have stabilized, but profits have fallen. Ford is planning massive layoffs and plant closures this year. Chrysler's main goal is modest - to finish the current year without a profit, but also without a loss. To this end, Chrysler will cut 26 thousand jobs over three years.
But all this had little effect on the atmosphere of the holiday, because more than anything else, Americans love shows, cars and a happy ending. The show took place, and the happy ending should be organized by Bush, his administration, the army, the FBI and others. That's why they are kept.
The world's auto giants have already begun preparations for the Detroit Auto Show 2003.
Favorites of 2002
Cadillac Cien , the main favorite of the show, winner in two categories for design, 6-liter engine, 345 hp, price about $50,000.
Lamborghini Murcielago , top production car, 12 cylinder, 580 hp, starting price $260,000
Chevrolet Trail Blazer , the most beloved by American women. Engine 4.2 liters, 6 cylinders, 270 hp, price about $26,000.
Ford Thunderbird , another love of beautiful American women, entered the market in the fall of 2001 and continues to attract customers with its retro styling, 3.9 liter engine and relatively low price - $35,000.
Jeep Compass , a new generation favorite. Can be equipped with a 150 hp engine. or a 3.7 liter engine with a corresponding power of 210 hp. The base price is very reasonable - only $17,000.
In Detroit the following were presented:
Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daewoo, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saab, Saturn, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo prepared by Alexander Liberman |
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