I'm just back from the Detroit auto show -- another extravaganza of new-car introductions, trial-balloon concepts likely to go into production, and just plain weird stuff. After sorting through the hype, competing with 6,600 journalists for standing room only at the press conferences and quaffing free German beers (thanks, DaimlerChrysler), here are my nominees for show standouts:
Best muscle car
Got to go with the Corvette Z06. The sixth-generation Vette was unleashed last fall. The new Z06 adds an even more powerful, 7-liter V8 engine, boosting horsepower to 500 and torque to 475 lb.-ft. It will race from zero to 60 in less than four seconds and hit a top speed of 190 mph. Expect to pay about $65,000 when it goes on sale late this year.
For slimmer budgets, consider the reborn Dodge Charger, which shares a lot of styling cues and technology with the Chrysler 300. The base model Charger starts at $26,000 for the 250-hp V6 engine. The 340-hp Hemi model will start in the low $30s.
Best convertible
Porsche introduced the 911 Carrera and Carrera S cabriolets, on the heels of last summer's launch of its well-received, redesigned Carrera coupe. You can open and close the top while driving at speeds of up to 31 mph, and safety bars pop up behind each seat when the car senses a rollover could happen. Expect to pay $79,100 for the Carrera Cabriolet and $88,900 for the Carrera S Cabriolet.
By March, you'll be able to buy a new Mustang convertible, with prices starting around $25,000 ($30,000 for a V8). And early next year, a smart-looking, very cool roadster from Saturn will arrive at dealerships. Called the Sky, it's also expected to start around $25,000.
Best pickup
Honda finally joined the pickup crowd. The Ridgeline isn't going to win over many Ford F-150 owners. It's more like a five-seater SUV with a five-foot-long open cargo bed suitable for weekend use -- hauling bicycles and stuff from Home Depot. One neat feature: a roomy, lockable trunk under the cargo bed. The Ridgeline has a V6 engine and 255 hp. It will be available in March for around $30,000.
Most practical crossover
Seems every carmaker had a crossover to introduce -- SUV/wagons that are based on car platforms but still ride high. It would be tough to pick a best, but my fave is the Mazda5. Mazda calls it a multi-activity vehicle because it's sort of a wagon, sort of a minivan and sort of an SUV. Three rows of side-by-side seating means you can fit six people, or you can fold any or all of the passenger seats to make up to a five-foot-long flat cargo area. It's powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 157 hp. Prices should start in the low $20s when it goes on sale later this year.
Weirdest concept
Sometimes you have to ask yourself: What were they thinking? That was my reaction to Ford's SYNus concept. It's boxy like a Scion xB and about the same size, but then it starts to stray into some designer's off-kilter vision of a post-apocalyptic (or terrorist-filled) world.
According to the press materials, "it's compact enough to maneuver through congested streets yet bold enough to provide security and sanctuary from urban life." How? When parked and placed in secure mode, it deploys protective shutters over the windshield and side glass. The remaining small windows are bulletproof. The rear hatch is opened with a vault-style spinner.
Instead of a rear window, the SYNus is equipped with a widescreen LCD, offering a choice of Internet surfing, movie viewing or, if you're actually driving the thing, a rear view. Something tells me this concept isn't going into production.
GETTING STARTED
