OK, take a deep breath … hold it in … now, let it go … ahhh, new car smell. It’s the one smell that – well, gets my engine going.
Through Sunday, April 11, the Denver Auto Show is parked at the Colorado Convention Center, and this year you’ll see more than 500 vehicles from the likes of Acura, Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Bentley, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, MINI, Nissan, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. The DAS is one of the oldest auto shows in the nation and the largest in our region between Los Angeles and the Mississippi River.
Last year was a struggle for much of the auto industry and after attending last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show and this year’s Denver Auto Show, I’m getting the sense from manufacturers, specifically General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler, that we may have reached the bottom of the valley and we’re headed upward and onward for a pleasant drive – literally.
Let’s start with the winners of the 2010 Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Awards! RAMP is a collective of multi-medium journalists who provide automotive information and content to the entire region.
And the winners are:
Outstanding Car of the Year: Buick Lacrosse AWD. Outstanding Truck of Year: Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy-Duty. Outstanding SUV: Volvo XC60. Outstanding Environmentally Friendly Car of the Year: Ford Fusion Hybrid.
General Motors has a fresh start, and as the company has shrunk their number of brands, their volume has grown – their major focus is now Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC.
Starting later this year, the plug-it-in-let-it-charge-then-drive Chevy Volt will be the poster child for GM, and with an estimated 40 mpg, it has the potential to be a class leader and a huge boost for the corporation.
It was the 2011 Buick Regal, however, that caught my eye. The lines are not what you would expect on a U.S. brand – sleek, smooth and sculpted. And the car has undergone an entire transformation. Buick is focusing on five key areas with the Regal: sculpted design, luxurious interior, quality, personal technology and modern performance. From the looks of it, this car delivers – think sports coupe. I think Buick will do well with this car, as it’s loaded with lots of standard features.
A note for those of you attending the Denver Auto Show: GM will have a Consumer Ride and Drive event during the show, and you’ll have the chance to get behind the wheel of about a dozen of their vehicles. Visit their display on the show floor for more info. This morning I drove the Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell, the Lacrosse, the Terrain and the Silverado Hybrid. If you want to drive the Chevy Camero, you’ll have to drive something else first. It’s a smart way for you to learn the chosen route, and you’ll be paired with a representative from GM who will give you information on the vehicle you’re driving. What a great concept and opportunity for you really get behind the wheel – and they’re not going to try to sell you anything – it’s all about the GM driving experience.
There are some exciting things from Ford Motor Company, as well – besides winning the 2010 RMAP Environmentally Friendly Car of the Year with the Fusion Hybrid. One of the hottest cars at the show is the Ford Fiesta. I had a chance to chat with Denverites Lemon and Kanz, who are taking part in the Fiesta Movement Chapter 2. Graffiti artists by trade, these guys are behind the wheel of a Lime-Squeeze-colored Fiesta and taking their challenges full on with the hopes of winning this social-media-led super contest. The car hasn’t even rolled off the production line and more than 12,000 have been ordered – and the ordering process is half the fun of owning this car. If you haven’t seen this car close up, go check it out. I guarantee you’re going to be seeing A LOT of them on the road!
Chrysler has always been a perennial favorite of mine – we’ve had three Jeeps in the family, and Out Front Colorado is currently delivered in a Dodge Ram 1500.
And Chrysler is another company that has emerged as new over the past 10 months. The most amazing thing to learn is that from now through December of this year, 16 new and significantly refreshed vehicles will roll off their production lines – that’s 75% of their product line!
All-new vehicles include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, the much-awaited Fiat 500, Dodge CUV, RAM HD, Chrysler Sebring and its convertible, and the Chrysler Town & Country (yes, there’s a lot of LGBT families who are getting into the family-van segment).
One of the hottest things from Chrysler is that they’re the first to offer live mobile TV in conjunction with Mopar. FLO TV will be available in eight models and will allow you to watch breaking news, primetime network shows, live sports and kids’ programs in the back seat. The option is only $629, and the first year of programming is free. Of course, you can’t watch TV while you’re driving, but you can listen to it while your rear passengers watch.
Other highlights from the show include:
The addition of the RV display – I’d love to take this mini Airstream Victorinox and pack it across the country.
The dream drive Audi A8.
The sexy Cadillac SRX.
The greening of the Camero Synergy.
Another look at the Ford Fiesta.
The Honda Crosstour AWD.
The Lexus VIP – matte finish looks like a trend we’re going to see and this one’s in PINK!
The MINI Cooper S Convertible.
The New Beetle Convertible – my dream “just for fun car.”
The rugged Subaru Outback.
The Jeep Wragler Sport.
Denver Auto Show hours are today until 10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. Tickets, $10 for adults, $5 for kids 7-12 and seniors 65+ are free with an ID. You can purchase online here.
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