So it's not going to be a banner year for the home team at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are about as beat down as major industrial giants can get, but this is a chance for each company to convince the public that there's still some life in the Motor City.
Here's the latest rundown on what to expect:
General Motors:
Cadilllac SRX - Whether you like the new look or not, this new compact SUV does show that Cadillac is still getting new products into hot segments. By the end of the year, Audi, BMW, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz will all have compact SUVs of their own, so Cadillac's timing is right on.
Buick LaCrosse - originally scheduled to arrive at the 2008 LA Auto Show, Buick's new sedan should finally make an appearance in Detroit. Judging from the spy photos we've seen, it will look much like the Invicta concept shown in Beijing although it certainly won't have the concept's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Chevrolet Equinox - It's not exactly all-new, but this compact SUV is new where it needs to be. A much improved interior combined with fuel efficient new engines and a decent looking exterior should make this Equinox a viable import alternative.
Saab 9-5 Griffon Edition - Not much new here. Seems like Saab just wanted us to remember that the 9-5 still exists.
Ford:
Shelby GT500 - You knew this snake was coming. Like the standard Mustang, the Shelby version is a mild upgrade over the current model. Still, as we pointed out last week, the GT500 is likely to reign as the king of the Detroit muscle cars until Chevrolet and Dodge come up with more powerful versions of the Camaro and Challenger.
Taurus - Exposed in numerous spy shots already, this new sedan looks promising. A nice sleek shape on the outside and an interior to match. Expect a turbocharged Ecoboost engine down the road too.
MKT - Again, the spy shots tell the story. This is no rebadged Ford Flex. It may share the same hardware, but few would notice from the outside. Lincoln needs some noticeable new products, this looks like a good start.
Chrysler:
Patriot EV - There was a slight murmur in the blogosphere a few weeks ago when it was revealed that Jeep would roll out an electric version of its Patriot SUV. Such news might have caused a stir a year ago, but given that we've already seen several other Chrysler products stuffed with electric drivetrains, this doesn't register too high on the excitement scale. At this point, a Patriot that burns nitromethane might not even move the needle.
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