Wednesday, 31 March 2004
Zoom Zoom Zoom! The 2004 Pacific International Auto Show - PERSPECTIVES - THE COMMENTARY
By Michael Kwan
I'm not sure what the message of the 2004 Pacific International Auto Show was supposed to be. There were two clearly dichotomous philosophies of car-making presented at the show. Of course, the cars of most interest were the concept cars and cars on the verge of making it into the market. On the one hand, my breath was taking away by the Batmobile-esque Cadillac Sixteen. The hood opens on the side to reveal - get this - a 13.6L V16. Sure, we may find that kind of muscle in an Indy car or something of that ilk, but to hear of 1000 horsepower?! Wow. Even the Lamborghini Murcielago, an absolute dream car in its own right, puts out just over 500 hp. It goes without saying that this lengthy, and likely heavy muscle car with an all glass roof, 24-inch polished wheels, and 4-wheel steering is a gas guzzler. I would not be surprised if one would need over 30 or 40 litres of premium gas to take it 100 km on the highway.
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, Transport Canada was showcasing the Euro-styled more fuel-efficient vehicles. For example, the 54 hp MMC Smart Cabrio - a Mercedes product - seems more a glorified golf cart than a road-worthy automobile. "These small sized vehicles address a specific need within highly populated areas, for efficient and cost-effective performance and reliability." With a top speed of 135 km/h, it can exceed the speed limits on the Trans-Canada, but not by much. Supposedly getting 74 miles on the gallon from its 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, this thermoplastic body car is due out on the market this September for under $20,000. The Volkswagen Lupo FSi can travel 100 kilometres on just five litres of gas; like the MMC Smart car, the Lupo is a 3-cylinder turbo engine, but unlike its Mercedes counterpart, the Lupo pushes 105 hp, seats four (the MMC seats two), and tops out at around 165 km/h.
In line with similar thought, Honda showcased its FCX, a fuel cell powered sports wagon-type vehicle. Similar in style to a Toyota Matrix or Honda Civic SIR on the outside, this concept is a far cry from "normal" cars under the hood. Using compressed hydrogen as fuel, the FCX combines this hydrogen with oxygen molecules from the air to create its power. In this way, the FCX produces not little, but absolutely no harmful emissions, with only pure water as a by-product. It is ideas like this that reinforce the fact that new cars create only 4% of the emissions of a similar vehicle from 1987.
The first set of cars I saw as I entered BC Place Stadium is the Acura line-up. Nothing particular of note, Acura features their new TL - a luxury sedan sporting a 3.2L SOHC (Single Overhead Cam) V6 engine, pushing 270 horsepower. In an effort to contend with their European counterparts - most notably the BMW 3-series, for example - the TL is very reasonably priced with a MSRP of just over $40,000. Infiniti featured their QX56 urban SUV. Sport Utility Vehicles aren't really what their name implies anymore, with the vast majority showcasing luxury and comfort over their ability to go off-roading through the Outback, for example. The Escalade-ish QX56, with a 5.6L V8 and 318 horsepower, can be had for $73,800 (MSRP). Other notables from the Infiniti line include the FX45 and FX35 - smaller SUVs - for $60,200 and $52,700, respectively, with their 4.5L and 3.5L engines, respectively.
Saab and Saturn try to be what they are not. Saab tried displaying their 92X - "the ultimate premium sports hatch" - with little attention from any of the passerbys, me included. The Saturn Ion 3 Quad Coupe looks like it's trying to answer to Mazda's new RX-8, and at just over $20,000, it may attract a few buyers, but not me. Porsche showed off their Cayenne, another urban SUV. You can get the V6 for $60,850, the V8 for $78,250 or the V8-Turbo for $125,100. It's amazing to think that within a model like that, the top of the line goes for over double the price of the bottom of the line, but that's not to say that the V6 Cayenne is anything to sneeze at. Mind you, the Lexus RX330, also a V6, retails for $49,900 and the Nissan Murano, which more closely resembles the Cayenne, is also in the same price range. Maybe you are just paying for some European badging instead of the Japanese equivalent . . . but that discussion can easily lead itself into a full article of its own.
Jeep presented its Treo Concept. Surely a Jeep through and through, what is interesting about the Treo, besides the fact that it looks as if it has no hood, is its drive-by-wire system. This means it can readily change between left and right side drive easily - the steering wheel, pedals, and all necessary connections simply slide from one side of the car to the other. Named a Treo, it is designed to have a 2+1 type seating arrangement, but more likely to be used in a 2+cargo type of setup. Other notable concepts at the show include the Dodge Kahuna Concept - a 3-row seating super truck, the Dodge Tomahawk Concept Bike - a motorcycle that looks unfinished, and the new Mustang GT Coupe, due some time this year. With shaved door handles, huge wheels and retro-looking taillights, Ford isn't kidding when they say, "The Legend Grows." The new Mustang will be available with a 200 horsepower V6 or a 300+ horsepower V8.
Although the vast majority of the show was dedicated to cars and carmakers, there was also an exhibitor section with businesses that don't sell vehicles, but rather accessories for vehicles and other products. For example, Boom Plus Toys (BPT) showcased a pumping system in a white Nissan 350Z, and Boyz Club highlighted Focal and Audison subwoofers. We were also treated to a 'done-up' Fairlady Z, BMW Z4 with deep dish rims, a yellow Civic SIR and a Phoenix Yellow Integra Type R, to name a few. The Auto SR Group, known for their tuning services, showed off products they offered from Brabus, TRD and AC Schnitzer, among others. Booths and displays like these may be expected at a car show, but strangely, stores selling toy cars and massage chairs also made an appearance.
What caught my eye? Certainly the 1000 hp Cadillac Sixteen could not be ignored, but among cars that are already on the market . . . the 6-speed Subaru WRX STi is as close to the true World Rally Championship Subaru Impreza one can attain. With 17 inch gold BBS rims, a complete Brembo brake system, 300 horsepower and a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, the STi retails for just over $46,000, a very reasonable price considering the power and tradition you'd be purchasing. The new 2004 Mazda RX-8 was certainly an interesting find. A Renesis 1.3 L Rotary powered engine, 18" aluminium alloy wheels, a 50/50 weight distribution, Bose premium audio sound system, and of course the "freestyle" four-door design are among its features; and I guess the 238 horsepower (from a 1.3 litre engine - Wow!) is pretty impressive too. The rear-wheel drive wide-body look RX-8 can be found for just under $40,000 MSRP. We've all seen the retro Ford Thunderbird, and let me tell you, sitting in one sure feels retro. The tan accents and eggshell coloured gauge cluster add to this classic car kind of feel. The aqua gauge needles are a very interesting detail. My brother, who works at a Ford dealership, tells me that these things were selling like hotcakes sight unseen to many a baby boomer, and for $61,775, I can almost understand why. BMW never fails to impress, this time around with the Z4 and the M3. A brilliant combination of speed and luxury, BMW does it again.
I was generally familiar with almost all of the carmakers present at the show, but two in particular I knew little to nothing about. Handcrafted in the USA, the Panoz Esperante GTLM was a nifty looking European-like sports car with a near 50/50 weight distribution. Aluminium alloy construction and a V8 are among the features of this surely elitist roadster. A car popular among some snooty bluebloods and self-made millionaire rappers alike is the Mayback 57. With six decades of tradition, this Rolls Royce like town-car is accented in chrome and wood trim. LCD screens in the back of both front seats, a fold out dinner tray quite unlike those found on your favourite airline - these are in full wood trim with more chrome accent, and luxurious leather seats are among its luxury features. Apparently, this car is custom tailored to its clientele - it is, after all, more a car to be driven in and not one to be driven. With a V12 543 hp engine, this car can quite confidently call itself the ultimate luxury sedan.
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The full album of pictures Susanne Shum, my official photographer, took during the show can be found at: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287327463
The 2004 Pacific International Auto Show runs until April 4th, 2004; General admission is $12.
Visit The Commentary's Senior Contributing Writer Michael Kwan's own website, Now That's Entertainment. . .