(Sure, we don't have our Raptor anymore, but we do have a Rotary Lift so this one counts. )
The 2012 Detroit Auto Show is over for us, but for the public the show continues until the 22nd of January. You've seen the tours, the blogs, the news and everything else and now you get to see how the manufacturers display the cars from our Long Term fleet. Some where good (TSX Sportwagon got a great spot, so did the Juke) some were not (Mazda 3 parked in the back of the stand). If they didn't have our Long Termer, I got a reasonably similar car.
Mike Magrath, Features Editor, Inside Line
nickjs1984 says:
12:23 PM, 01/16/12
I thought the Ford booth was completely crazy - over the top and incredible - so all of their vehicles had great spots. Like last year, Volkswagen's display actually hurt my eyes because of how incredibly bright it was but all vehicles were easy to identify as you made your way past. Volvo had two S60s on display and it was nice to see the T5 represented and not just the most expensive iteration (ahem, Audi). And you're right - the poor Mazda space was kind of a mess overall. Not one of their best showings.
mbm112 says:
12:55 PM, 01/16/12
@nickjs1984: I agree with VWs display. Way too bright as usual. They have an upper level section where VW owners could go, but I didn't notice anybody actually going up there. I really enjoyed Ford's display as well. They brought in a lot of different levels of the same model so you weren't limited to just check out the base, or the Limited, etc.
I really liked Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus's display as far as the luxury automakers go. Lexus had a nice black/white contrast theme going on. I liked how Mercedes brought in their vehicles with the designo Matte paint and their display lighting was very smooth in showing that off. Saw a lot of people run up to look at and feel the paint.
Was disappointed by the Acura booth. There was almost no interest surrounding the NSX concept. There were more people checking out the Toyota NS4 plug-in hybrid.
bimmerjay says:
01:05 PM, 01/16/12
That Kia Optima has about the ugliest factory wheels I think I've ever seen on a modern car. It looks like they swiped them from a 1980's Nissan Pulsar or something.
Mike Magrath replied to comment from mbm112
01:19 PM, 01/16/12
"I liked how Mercedes brought in their vehicles with the designo Matte paint and their display lighting was very smooth in showing that off. "
This. It makes it so easy to shoot those cars, too.
-mm
lvgti says:
02:37 PM, 01/16/12
Has a Chevy turbo Sonic been added to the IL fleet?
the_big_al says:
03:44 PM, 01/16/12
Whether it was intentional or not to give it away, it appears that a Sonic has been added to fleet.
blueprint1 says:
06:22 PM, 01/16/12
Sonic LTZ! Sweeeet!
greenpony says:
11:19 AM, 01/17/12
the_big_al says: "Whether it was intentional or not to give it away, it appears that a Sonic has been added to fleet."
This was posted on their long-termer board here:
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/12/long-term-car-lost-and-found-presents.html
Although, no one ever responded to my query. I took the lack of response as confirmation.
giller says:
12:56 PM, 01/17/12
Am I missing something?
Where's the Volvo?
nelsonlu says:
05:26 PM, 01/17/12
Fusion Hybrid? (Or any Fusion?)