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2006 North American International Auto Show
By: Drew Phillips
Photos by Nathan Leach Proffer
January 20, 2006

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The 2006 North American Auto Show in Detroit is undoubtedly one of the most important events on the automotive calendar. It is the stage for many international debuts from nearly every major car maker, and over 6,000 members of the media gather for press days to witness the unveiling of dozens of new production and concept cars. This year was marked by retro concepts like the Camaro Concept from Chevrolet and the Challenger Concept from Dodge. Lamborghini unveiled a new Miura concept celebrating the car's 40th anniversary, and Aston Martin debuted a 4-door version of its DB9. Ferrari had its FXX supercar on display, and announced the successor to the Maranello. Japanese car companies introduced youthful cars like Urge Concept from Nissan and the Kabura Concept from Mazda. Read on for all the details...

Retro Trends

American car companies seem to have a fascination with their past. Not that there is anything wrong with that - the classic muscle cars of the 1960's were some of the best automobiles of all time. With the reinvention of cars like the Ford Mustang, Ford GT, and Dodge Charger, the Big Three once again went retro for 2006. Following the success of its other Hemi-powered cars, the Chrysler Group had no hesitation introducing the Challenger. In concept form for now, a production version would fill the 2-door performance car gap in the Dodge lineup. Designers looked to the 1970 Challenger for inspiration: "Challenger draws upon the initial 1970 model as the icon of the series," said Tom Tremont, Vice President - Advanced Vehicle Design. "The 1970 model is the most sought after by collectors." Power comes from the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 producing 425 bhp and 420 lb-ft torque. Estimated performance figures include a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of nearly 175 mph.

With the demise of the Camaro in 2002 after thirty-five years of production, GM brought hope again to the Camaro faithful with a new concept car that draws heavily from the 1969 model year as well as the C6 Corvette. "I wanted to capture the spirit, the essence of [the '69 Camaro]," said Tom Peters, director of design for GM's global rear-wheel-drive performance cars. Also from the Corvette is the powerplant - under the hood of the Camaro Concept is a 400 bhp LS2 V8 linked with a 6-speed manual transmission. A production version is highly probable, although a 2007 model year launch in time for the Camaro's 40th anniversary probably will not likely happen.

Last year Ford introduced a pre-production version of the first Mustang bearing the Shelby name in over thirty years. This year's show brought a production version, a convertible model, and more details. Ford claims to have pulled all the stops on the most powerful Mustang ever produced. "If you want to hold it up to a whole new set of standards and be worthy of the Shelby GT500 name, then you better be prepared to roll up your sleeves" said Tom Chapman, SVT Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor. Using an iron-block version of the supercharged V8 engine in the Ford GT, the Shelby GT500 sports 475 bhp and 475 lb-ft torque making it the most powerful Mustang ever produced. Handling and braking has been improved to match the power output. Visual cues include a more aggressive body design, a vented hood, and racing stripes.

Sleek Designs

American car companies weren't the only ones resurrecting legendary vehicles from the past. There were rumors of a new Lamborghini concept being introduced at Detroit, and the Miura name was included. The House of the Raging Bull designed the car in celebration of the Miura's 40th anniversary. Walter de' Silva, Head of Lamborghini Design, penned the design. "I have often dreamt of redesigning the Miura. Now, thanks to my new position at the head of Lamborghini…, I have been able to turn that dream into a reality." Lamborghini is currently gauging current owners for interest in a production version.

Aston Martin unveiled a 4-door version of the DB9 called the Rapide using its flexible VH architecture. The extruded aluminum structure allows for chassis width and length to be easily modified. This versatility allowed Aston Martin to create a flowing design despite the extended wheelbase. "In terms of elegance the Rapide is adding value to the DB9's undisputed elegance and subtle understatement," said Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin. "Our cars must look beautiful from all angles, and the four-door is very well balanced."

Two other design projects included the Audi Roadjet Concept and the Infiniti Coupe Concept. Each displayed experimental design elements, signifying the direction each company is headed. The Audi Roadjet features a short overhang and tapered front end that will likely appear on future production cars. Other elements of the car including the 7-speed DSG transmission and a 300 bhp version of Audi's FSI 3.2-liter V6. The Coupe Concept from Infiniti focused more on conceptual design elements, with its full length glass panel roof, projector headlights, and exterior video cameras.

Supercars

It's debatable whether a 4-door sedan can be described as a supercar, but the S 65 AMG from Mercedes fits the description as well as any other car. Mercedes was quick to fit its 612 bhp Twin-Turbo V12 in the new body style, making its power unmatched with the exception of only a few high end exotics like the Bugatti Veyron. Also new are the composite brakes developed by AMG. The S 55's limited 155 mph top speed will surely come up too quickly for most owners.

On display at the Ferrari stand was the supercar of all supercars, the FXX. A race-only model produced exclusively for the most loyal (and wealthy) of Ferrari customers, the FXX allows the lucky 20 or so owners to experience what it's like to be part of a Ferrari racing team. At official track events sponsored by Ferrari, owners are provided with technicians and a crew to manage the car. Rumor has it that a FXX will be on track at this year's Cavallino Classic in Florida. Expect plenty of coverage.

Although not at the show, Ferrari also released photos and a few details of its next front-engine GT, the 599 GTB. The replacement for the Maranello will feature a 620 bhp version of the 6.0-liter V12 in the Enzo.

Youthful Design

With many of the American and European automakers focused on high performance cars, Japanese car companies focused on the youth market. The Urge Concept from Nissan was developed specifically for younger males. "Not surprisingly, most of the young, primarily male, respondents to our survey said that they want a small, fun-to-drive sports car that can incorporate the technology products that they use on a daily basis, such as cell phones, mp3 players and game consoles," said Bruce Campbell, vice president, design, Nissan Design America. The car was also designed to be affordable. Using a front-engine, rear-drive platform and weighing in at 2400 lbs, the Urge would be performance oriented, and the sporty interior would complete the minimalist theme. The main feature of the car is a driver information monitor that can be switched between five different screens including navigation, climate, audio, and suspension/performance.

Mazda designers also had the youth market in mind when designing the Kabura Concept. Designed to contend in the competitive sport compact segment, the Kabura features much more interior room than competitors. Taking design cues from the RX-8, the 3+1 layout allows easy access to rear seats. Designed on the MX-5 platform, the Kabura also uses Miata's 2.0-liter Inline-4. No production model is currently planned.

With last year's introduction of an all-new Eclipse, it was inevitable that Mitsubishi would produce a convertible version not too much later. It only took a year, and the Eclipse Spyder was unveiled as a 2007 model. Technically, the Spyder is the same car as the coupe, using the same inline-4 for the GS and the V6 in the GT. The Spyder features a cloth top that folds completely out of sight in just nineteen seconds. Pricing should start below $26,000.