2009 Chevrolet Camaro
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
2008 Dodge Challenger
1970 Dodge ChallengerThe 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was held last week in Detroit. After reviewing MotorTrend's coverage of the show, I am not impressed and a little disappointed by what will be coming out of Detroit in the next few years.
In the past, the Detroit Auto Show was something to look forward to. It was a show that highlighted the manufacturer's current model year cars and dazzled spectators with their leading edge concept cars. The show used to be about performance, innovative design and use of technology, and time-less styling. What the show has ultimately become is a loss of all originality, the loss of imagination, a dependence on what was then--a signaling of ultimate failure.
There is a reason why the muscle cars of the 60's and 70's were retired; their designs were tired, their large cubic inch displacements inefficient, and lastly the increasing costs of oil. This is precisely why the muscle car will fail again. Oil prices will continue to rise, the inefficiencies of driving a 400 wheel horsepower supercar through 35mph congestion will materialize, and the retro trend will end.
I have hope in Detroit and for auto manufacturers across the world in designing cars that will appear timeless, that utilize the latest technologies in making automobiles more efficient, more powerful, more safe, and more enjoyable for the driver.
In the past, the Detroit Auto Show was something to look forward to. It was a show that highlighted the manufacturer's current model year cars and dazzled spectators with their leading edge concept cars. The show used to be about performance, innovative design and use of technology, and time-less styling. What the show has ultimately become is a loss of all originality, the loss of imagination, a dependence on what was then--a signaling of ultimate failure.
There is a reason why the muscle cars of the 60's and 70's were retired; their designs were tired, their large cubic inch displacements inefficient, and lastly the increasing costs of oil. This is precisely why the muscle car will fail again. Oil prices will continue to rise, the inefficiencies of driving a 400 wheel horsepower supercar through 35mph congestion will materialize, and the retro trend will end.
I have hope in Detroit and for auto manufacturers across the world in designing cars that will appear timeless, that utilize the latest technologies in making automobiles more efficient, more powerful, more safe, and more enjoyable for the driver.
1 comment:
Those car pics are making me hot- everyone likes a well oiled machine.
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