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2005 North American International Auto Show
By: Drew Phillips
Photos by Drew Phillips and Nathan Leach-Proffer
January 24, 2005

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Coming off an incredible 2004, the automotive world had high expectations for the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The anticipation increased in the weeks before the show as manufacturers gave hints, sketches, and preliminary specifications to the cars that would be introduced at the show. Models that had already made their international debut, like the 997 911 Carrera and BMW M5, made their North American debuts. Dozens of cars were introduced, and Drew Phillips and Nathan Leach-Proffer were there to capture all the excitement. Here are some of the highlights from this year's show:

General Motors

The most anticipated car introduced at Detroit this year was the Z06 version of the C6 Corvette that Chevrolet introduced a year earlier. While photos of the car had leaked from GM nearly two months earlier, everyone wanted to get a more detailed view of the car and its 7.0 liter small-block V8 engine. The C6-R was introduced alongside the new Z06, and the visual similarities between the two cars can be seen instantly. This is because the two cars were developed together, with much of Chevrolet's racing knowledge carrying over to the street car. "The new Z06 is the dividend from competing so successfully in endurance racing," said Corvette's chief engineer Dave Hill. "It combines the strong attributes of the new, sixth-generation Corvette with the spirit, technology and know-how from the race program to form an American supercar with outstanding credentials." Along with the increased power of the new LS7 engine, weight was kept reasonably low with an all-aluminum body structure and the use of lightweight materials like carbon composites and magnesium. To handle the increased power, the Z06 also received a stiffer suspension and larger brakes. Performance should be on par with current supercars, all with a price tag under $70,000. The C6-R is scheduled to make its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.

Cadillac has upgraded its brand image with the 'V' cars, and the STS is the second and latest of the series. The new supercharged Northstar V8 under the hood makes the badging well deserved, and the 440 bhp and 430 lb-ft torque make it Cadillac's most powerful production car ever made. Linked with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the STS-V should hit 60 mph in under 5 seconds. Visual enhancements are subtle, yet they let you know there's something more to the car than the regular STS. The V-Series cars get a wire mesh grill, a new front fascia, a larger hood that provides extra room for the supercharger, aluminum wheels (18-inches in the front, 19-inches in the rear), a larger rear spoiler, and V-Series badges to let everyone know it's not your grandfather's Cadillac. The interior gets upgrades as well including a refined interior and more V-Series badging. Pricing for the STS-V has not yet been announced.

Saturn was the surprise manufacturer of the show. They introduced two tasteful models at the show: the Saturn Sky roadster headed for production in 2007 and the Aura Concept that will likely lead to a production model as well. The Sky features the same 2.4 liter in the Pontiac Solstice that produces 170 bhp and 162 lb-ft torque. Styling for the sleek roadster was inspired by the Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept that was created by GM's Advanced Design Studio in England. The Sky will apparently lead the future styling of the brand according to GM. "The vehicle's strong front end is the new face of Saturn, with a pronounced fender peak and a bold, chrome bar that carries an integrated Saturn badge," said Ed Welburn, vice president of Design for GM North America. Performance and handling are targeted for the Mazdaspeed Miata, but after talking to a Saturn representative, I learned there might also be plans for a supercharged version one or two years after the first model year that could compete with cars like the Honda S2000 or BMW Z4.

DaimlerChrysler

Chrysler released several sketches before the show that showed a sleek coupe that looked like a mix between a Viper and a Crossfire. In real life, the Firepower Concept didn't disappoint with a gorgeous body painted in Hyrdo Silver Pearl. The Firepower incorporates a Viper chassis mated to Chrysler's most powerful engine, the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and the 5-speed automatic transmission with Autostick. Unlike the Viper which emphasizes raw power and bare-bones necessities, the Firepower features a luxurious interior trimmed with Oyster leather and Behr maple accents. Will Chrysler produce this beautiful GT car? Their decision will most likely depend on the media's and public's reaction to the car at the show.

Like the Corvette Z06, nearly everyone knew what the new Dodge Charger was going to look like before it was officially introduced. Everyone also knew that it was going to be a four-door as well, which has many Dodge fans in an uproar. One of Dodge's main reasons for adding the two extra doors was functionality. "It's a car that evokes power and performance under the hood, yet provides everyday functionality and convenience," said Craig Love, Vice President of Chrysler's Rear-wheel-drive Product Team. Charger fans definitely can't complain about the powerplant, though, as the R/T model will use the 340 bhp 5.7-liter V8 also used in the Magnum RT and 300C Hemi. Will Dodge come out with a Charger SRT-8? It's hard imagining them not.

Jeep was the last of the Chrysler brands to join the Hemi party, but it arrived in grand fashion with not one but two Hemis in the Hurricane Concept. Each of the Hemis, one in the front and one in the rear, produce 335 bhp, totaling 670 bhp, which is transferred to all four wheels. Each of the engines can switch off up to 4 cylinders, allowing the Hurricane to run on either 4, 8, 12, or 16 cylinders. At full power this powerful off-roader can reach 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, even with its 14.3-inch ground clearance and 37-inch tires. The Hurricane also features four-wheel steering, allowing it to completely turn in a circle while in place or even drive sideways. "The multi-mode four-wheel steering system on Jeep Hurricane is designed to offer enthusiasts the next level of performance and unexpected maneuverability," said Trevor Creed, Chrysler Design's Senior Vice President.

Jaguar

With its dated XK8 and XKR, Jaguar has their fans looking for answers. That answer came in the form of the Advanced Lightweight Coupe Concept. "If you want to know what lies ahead for us, what direction we will take - this is Jaguar's answer," said Joe Greenwell, Chairman and CEO of Jaguar Cars. Designed by Ian Cullum, Jaguar's Design Director, the 2+2 introduced at the 2005 NAIAS is leading Jaguar's hopes of pushing their design into the 21st century. Performance should be boosted as well, with acceleration to 60 mph achieved in under 5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph.

Nissan

Nissan unveiled a sporty new coupe concept called the Azeal. Bruce Cambell, vice president of Nissan's design, explained the concept of the Azeal. "The idea behind the AZEAL is that an entry-level vehicle doesn't have to look entry-level. Though AZEAL has the compact dimensions of a small coupe, it projects a much larger presence in terms of style, personality and desirability." The inside of the Azeal features a modern interior that still look distinctly Nissan. The main feature of the cockpit is the glass-panel roof. A sporty 6-speed transmission is mated to a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4 that gives the Azeal plenty of performance.

Lexus

At last year's New York Auto Show, Lexus introduced the LF-C Concept which featured smooth lines and a retractable hardtop. The LF-A Concept that debuted at this year's NAIAS featured a similar look, but with much more aggressive lines and a focus on high performance that is closely linked with Toyota's racing efforts. "The LF-A is theoretically developed to run a parallel course to our company's efforts in Formula One racing," said Jim Press, Toyota's executive vice president of sales. "It would probably feature a powertrain and drivetrain configuration strongly influenced by whatever is being used in competition at the time." While the LF-A is just a concept, its design could have a large impact on future Lexus cars.

Mitsubishi

After fifteen years of production, Mitsubishi's sports coupe is getting yet another face in the form of the fourth generation Eclipse. The 2006 Eclipse GT has a more futuristic look than the outgoing model, and has the power to back up the more aggressive looks. Power now comes from a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 260 bhp and 260 lb-ft torque. A 6-speed manual and 18-inch wheels are now available on the GT model. Interested buyers should see the new Eclipse in showrooms by the middle of 2005.

Conclusion

While this year's show didn't have the outrageous supercar concepts like previous year's shows, there was a satisfied feeling that many of the new cars at the show would actually be attainable in the near future. Chevrolet's Z06, while not exactly cheap, offers incredible performance for a fraction of the cost of supercars with similar or less performance. Bob Lutz has made everyone want a Cadillac again, and Saturn has come up with a car that some might actually consider 'cool'. Chrysler once again didn't let anyone down with its Firepower Concept, and is offering a great bang-for-the-buck with all its Hemi cars. Other manufacturer's like Jaguar, Nissan, Lexus, and Mitsubishi are all keeping their eyes on the future and releasing cars that hint at a hopeful future for the automotive world. After the 2005 North American International Auto Show, all I have to say is that it's a great time to be a car guy.