Use the Force, Spot

NAIAS 2012: The Coverage

2013 Ford FusionOn Saturday, January 14th I found myself struggling against the weather and the car in an effort to visit Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit for the 2012 North American International Auto Show.  This show in particular had me excited because of the recent unveilings of the 2013 Ford Fusion, the new Hyundai Genesis coupe, the Mini roadster, and the new Mercedes-Benz SL.  You may have followed my tweets from the event with the hashtag #ChadAtNAIAS.  Now you can read my impressions.

Ford

The Ford exhibit is always a large, well-layed out display lodged in the corner of Cobo Hall.  Just by walking into the display area, you are quick to see just how serious Ford takes social, and how they take modern technology.  On the walls of the display, there are large screens showing pictures of people riding the Ford Cloud Experience display, how many people "Like" a particular vehicle (based on the RFID card you can use to use a different kiosks), and also show which city / geographical area has the most visitors to the auto show.  The Blue Oval Card was an all-access type of pass to everything social at Ford.

On the vehicle front, the new 2013 Ford Fusion is a beautful car to look at.  Ford had several on display (including the Energi plug-in hybrid version), but unfortunately did not have one (at least from what I could tell) that you could peep the interior with.

Ford Focus STAlso present was the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, which is my current favorite Ford I believe, but more importantly for the Focus, there was a giant display area of the Focus ST (including one in a never-before-seen-in-ST-guise blue).  Again, it is disappointing that I could not try out the fantastic looking Recaro seats, but it is nice to see so much emphasis on high performance hot hatches at Ford.  The big disappointment about the ST though?  The horsepower.  The Mazdaspeed3, which this car will undoubtedly be compared to, makes 263hp whereas the Focus is only going to make 250.  Yes, I know 250hp is more than enough in a front-wheel drive car, but Ford tends to dominate the horsepower wars (look at the new Shelby GT500), and on paper more is better.  I cannot wait to actually drive the ST Focus though; it's very possible it will be more fun and better handling than the superb Mazdaspeed3.

Speaking of ST models, Ford also had the Fiesta ST present.  What I abosolutely loved about the Fiesta was that Ford calls it a concept.  Right.  I believe that.  I was ready to tell the guy who was MC'ing the event to use air quotes when he said "concept".  It looked production ready, and despite the window tint that would not let you glipse the interior, it looks like a real winner.

SVT RaptorOther honorable mentions go to the Shelby GT500, which for 2013 will make 650hp (and the supercharger whine is intoxicating; they started one up on stage attached to a dyno).  Also, the 2013 SVT Raptor was present with a body lift so you can see the suspension components.  I believe that front and rear camera system will be great for rock crawlers and other off-roading fun.

Lincoln

While I will sit and gush about how much I enjoy Ford, Lincoln really has a way to go.  The new MKZ concept looked superb, and I generally like the design trend that Lincoln is following.  However, when I see an MKS all I really see is a Ford Taurus.  When I look at the current MKZ I see the Ford Fusion.  Considering I can get all the really cool luxury features in the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, I do not see a reason to look at a 2013 Lincoln MKS Hybrid.  The gap is even narrower on the MKS and the Taurus SHO.

Does that mean I do not like Lincoln?  Not at all.  I think it is a classic American brand and will do well under Ford's rule.  They have been talking about the changes they need to make, and the new concept is a step in the right direction!

General Motors

The General is always present in the adjacent corner of Cobo Hall.  Much like the Ford display, entering the GM area is like entering the GM world; everything else is seemingly blocked off.  The winners here?  The new Cadillac DTS concept.  Also, a lot of people were looking at the Spark and Regal GS.

Hot Wheels CamaroHonorable mentions in this booth are definitely the Camaro ZL1 convertible, and the Hot Wheels Camaro (which looks fantastic).  My coverage of GM is little because quite honestly, GM bores me these days.

FIAT / Dodge / Chrysler / Jeep / RAM

FIAT 500 Abarth.  Yes, it is as sexy as the commerical, and people were waiting in line to see it and poke and prod it.  If there is one car that makes me wish I would've waited when I bought the Fiesta, it would be this car.

The Dodge Dart is also increbily interesting.  I generally like small cars, especially small cars with a lot of technology.  The idea of purchasing a Dart with adaptive cruise control really shows how seriously FIAT is taking the American market.

Subaru BRZEveryone Else

The BMW ///M5 was stored in a hot, quartered off section of the BMW exhibit.  However, I can safely say that there is probably no better way to haul the kids to school.

The MINI roadster makes absolute sense.  It's small, light, fast, and nimble.  Sitting in the car also feels like an experience.  You sit low in the car and the car almost seems huge compared to my body sitting in it.  In a MINI!

The new Mercedes SL is gorgeous, and my mother claims it is worth draining the 401(k) for.  I personally cannot wait to see it in AMG-guise, since that is probably the only way I would buy a Mercedes.

The Hyundai Genesis coupe does not look as bad in person as it does in photos, and with more horsepower it is definitely a bargin for a good handling sports coupe.  Now, the new rear-drive Scion should be great competition for the 4-cylinder version of the Genesis coupe.

Overall

Dodge DartBased on all of the press, as well as my own personal experience, Ford is the big winner from this show.  The Ford Fusion is the big talk of the show.  Hyundai has several winners on their hands.  The SL is definitely my "I've made it" car.  I am also glad to see Nissan back, which a blue GT-R on the show floor.  Overall, it appears attendance is up at the auto show (from my unscientific observations), and Detroit is booming again.  That is something to be happy about!

Click Here to View All My NAIAS 2012 Pictures!

North American International Auto Show Coverage

It's late on Thursday night, and Saturday morning I will be traveling to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.  I make this trek every year, and always look forward to seeing all the vehicles that I have drooled over all week on the major sites like Autoblog.

Hopefully in the future I will be able to actually attend the media unveilings, but in the mean-time you all have the pleasure of suffering through the me getting excited and posting stuff that you have already seen!

This is also my attempt to really see how well Twylah can improve my social presence.  If you haven't seen Twylah yet, it is a way to create an actual webpage out of your trending topics on Twitter.  Be sure to check out my Twylah page to see what it is like.  Also, stay tuned here for future posts with coverage from the auto show.

Why I have a "Man Crush" on Ford

I have been recently accused of having a "man crush" on the Ford Motor Company.  The truth of the matter is, I do!  Ford is an interesting automotive company, and a great one to get behind because it is an American car company that is truly innovating.  I will be the first to admit, I have not always been a fan of Ford.  In fact, I would argue that I am only a fan of Ford 2.0.  Alan Mullaly running the company has been a boon to the company, and of the Big 3 auto makers, they are the only ones who did not take government bailout money.

So why do I think that Ford gets it?  Allow me to document the ways.

Ford Understands Social

Ford has a huge social media presence.  They have Twitter and Facebook accounts, and have a dedicated support team that constantly monitors those accounts and responds to customer questions and inquiries. 

@chadkirchner Loving ur interest! If you'd like me to locate a Raptor locally, DM ur ZIP & how far you'd travel. ^NV cc: @Ford @FordFocus

— FMC Customer Service (@FordCustService) January 10, 2012

This is not the only time that Ford social team has responded to offer to help me out or look into an issue for me.  Some people think it is unfair to favor customer support to social networking followers, but I believe that the people who follow a company are their biggest supporters, and it is extremely important to take care of those influential people to protect company image.  I tell everyone to look at Ford, and it is in large part due to their social networking presence.

Ford Understands Traditional Media

Though traditional print advertising and media may be dead, Ford is one company that tries to go out of its way to get exposure in traditional advertising.

I first got into Ford when I followed NASCAR racing driver Carl Edwards.  He has always been a gee-whiz proponent of Ford and always encourages people to "Drive One".

Ford also lets their cars be run through the ringer.  Some auto makers will refuse to loan vehicles to the BBC television show Top Gear.  Ford has taken heat from Jeremy Clarkson in the past, especially related to his issues he had with the Ford GT.  However, loaning them a Fiesta under the guise of a "normal car review" led Ford to have extreme success in showing that their Fiesta platform was capable of outrunning baddies in a shopping mall or supporting the military in a beach assault.

They sponsor some of the podcasts that I listen to as well, showing they understand the way media is going.  They "get it", and I think it is the reason why the are as successful as they have been.

They Make Great Cars

Starting with the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford staked themselves on being a technology leader.  Ford SYNC has matured by that point, but the Fusion Hybrid has more patented technology in it than any other car on the road (at least during launch time).  Ford also had Carl Edwards and team drive the car until it ran out of gas, much beyond the 700 mile claimed range of the fuel tank.  Also, this was the first vehicle Ford sold to have the LCD screens integrated in the dashboard, which became the foundation of MyFord Touch.

I loved the Ford Fusion Hybrid so much that I purchased one.  And when I needed to part ways with it, I was able to get more than I owed out of it thanks to the incredible residual value on it!

The Ford F150 Lightning had always been appealing to the performance truck fans, but I never cared for it.  I do not get the point of street trucks.  However, something that can go literally anywhere on the planet is what a truck should be capable of stating.  The F150 SVT Raptor is capable of doing just that.

I have seen on Ice Road Truckers where a Raptor pulled a stuck semi truck out of the snow.  I have seen the Raptors used by the United States Border Patrol to monitor the board between the United States and Mexico.  If I wanted a truck, this would be the truck I would want.

Finally, the Ford Focus Electric has just hit the market.  What is wonderful about the Focus, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and other alternative energy Fords is that they look just like the regular car counterpart.  The Toyota Prius looks like a spaceship and the Nissan Leaf is just as hideous.  The Fords look elegant and timeless because they look like their non-electric counterparts on the road.

The Focus Electric is just filled with the latest toys to make any geek drool, and it is no wonder Google was one of the first to receive one.

Ford has it going on, and they will continue for years to come.  I believe I may have converted to a Ford fan for life!