Four best cars, one dud mark Detroit's auto show
DETROIT — After every auto show, you have to ask yourself: What stuck?
There were more than 40 introductions of new models at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and as a whole they were surprisingly good.
In fact, this was one of the strongest auto shows in memory, a reflection of research and development budgets that have been restocked after having been bled dry during the recession.
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Moreover, the entries showed the dose of optimism that now pervades the industry. Good times are here, they're only getting better, and that leads to more healthy risk-taking when it comes to designs and ideas.
So what did we like? We're calling it four hits, one miss. There were four vehicles that stood out to us as excellent in either concept, design or overall appeal. One disappointed us, not because it was bad; rather, it was blah. And that's not to say it won't be a sales champion, either.
Our likes:
• Buick Avenir concept, the most beautiful car of the show.
• Chevrolet Volt is the breakthrough extended-range plug-in, made better in every way.
• Hyundai Santa Cruz concept is an example of brilliant creativity, an attempt to show how a glaring market gap could be plugged in a whole new way.
• Acura NSX is a supercar with a soul. It's beautiful standing still and it promises breathtaking performance on the street and track.
The miss? We'll leave that as our video surprise. Watch above to find out.