Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick

The day after Thanksgiving, we went to the auto show. It is a great day to do it if you can get there early, as it is not too crowded and most people are at retail stores doing the Black Friday thing anyway.
It is a lot of walking though, and it usually takes 3 to 4 hours to see everything. The next few posts are some of the better photos I took that day. I didn't capture everything in pictures though, and I missed some exquisite cars - it's just how things worked out. For one thing, I wish I would have taken photos of the smaller Fords...not sure what happened there.

Let's start with the Chevy display. This actual Camaro looked exactly like a full scale Hot Wheels!
The paint was amazing - I've never seen anything like it...except on a Hot Wheels car.

The Cruze is a great small car - it looks and feels high quality though it looked a little lonesome at the show. I've seen them on the road and at the dealer, and they look quite nice.

The Volt was very popular at the show. It is still hard to get seat time, even though this is it's second year here.

David trying out the driver's seat in a Volt.

They had three of them at the show, as opposed to one last year.

Camaro convertible was looking sharp!

I took this photo because the gentleman behind the wheel looked like a giant in there. He was grumbling as he got out, saying it was too small for his frame.

The new Sonic and I must say, it looks all the world like a Hedgehog!

Especially in the headlight area.

Cadillac had a fine display....this division has come a long, long way.

We had a CTS as a rental in Vegas this year, and we loved it. I never thought I'd like a Caddy, but I must say it would be sweet to own.

The Ciel show car. I have a love-hate relationship with this design. Can't quite decide.

The new Cadillac XTS - the first one I've seen. I kinda like the design. But it shouldn't be the top of the line - Caddy badly needs a flagship. Something bigger, more bold. Very upscale.

The Cadillac Converj show car, a hybrid. It has just been confirmed that Cadillac will build a production version called the ELR.

Buick has come a long way also....very lovely design here.

The angles are just perfect, especially in this gray color.

But it still looks awkward from the front - needs some work here. And look at the 20 somethings bailing - don't shoot me in a Buick!! Lol. Buick has some image building yet to do.

Ford and Lincoln

Edsel Ford's 1934 Model 40 Speedster was at the show - looking sharp!

The Ford Edge has been out a few years now, and I think it gets better looking each year - especially this year's nose and taillights. And with that red and those wheels - wow! This is extremely sharp!


Love the dash too. Looks very sophisticated.

Here is the brand new Ford Escape, it's not even on dealer's lots yet. I think the wheels are a little smaller than the early sketches I've viewed, but otherwise it looks as predicted. Looks sharp.

This is quite a change over the prior Escape - a bold move from Ford.

There were actually quite a few Escapes at the auto show - here it is in red.

And of course the Mustang - who doesn't love the Mustang? Very nice color and wheel setup on this Mustang GT.

Aggressive front end - very nice.

The Taurus is also excellent. They have went upscale since it's early days, and I think that's a good thing.

Lincoln is struggling to renew itself, and is in mid transformation. This actually looks much better in person than in photos, but they still have a bit of work to do. Style theme is evolving, and I like the direction it is going.

A bit boring in the back, though.

They will get there....but they better hurry!

Kia, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru, Acura, and Toyota

The Acura ZDX. It sure has love it or hate it styling - I kinda like it. One journalist said his neighbor kid thought it was the batmobile, and I can see that. But in a good way.
What becomes obvious when sitting in it, though, is that the back seat is going to be a royal pain. Head room has been severely sacrificed in the name of style (the fastback look), and adults must really duck to get in and out to avoid hitting their head on the door sill. Great looking car, but pretty impractical.

They had a Venza in this same color at the auto show last year too. I can see why, it's a great color for the car.
The production version of this car was unveiled days after we saw it at the auto show. The show car looks better, but they are both pretty sharp.


The Miata, a favorite with virtually everyone. In cluding me. A guy walked up to my wife shortly before this pic was taken and asked if the car is "too girly" for him to drive. My wife told him no. Not sure if she told him I used to own one.
Mazda 3. Nice little car.

Subaru's version of the red show car above. Both Toyota and Subaru are getting virtually identical versions of the car for production.

The Hyundai Azera. I think they screwed up. The prior generation looked better. Hyundai has been on a roll lately, but I think this shows that even they can still make mistakes. We'll see what the public thinks.

Kinda strange, if you ask me.

Not much better.

And Kia went totally off the wall. Yikes! They are obviously not aiming at my demographic. I would have a hard time even riding in that car.

WTF?

Great little Kia crossover, though.