Autos abound at Cobo

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DETROIT – Auto enthusiasts will be crawling in cars, climbing on walls
and huddling around the hottest concept vehicles this week at the 2006
North American International Auto Show.

The show, which runs through Sunday in Detroit’s Cobo Hall, features
more than 700 vehicles on display – a huge increase from the mere 33
shown in 1907 at the first Detroit Auto Show.

Showcases ranged from high-tech lighted murals of cities, rugged
walls with waterfalls and rock climbing at Jeep’s exhibit.

Jeep, a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler Corp., offered free
photos along with rock climbing, and featured 2006 models, including
the Commander, Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler.

The show’s star is the Chevrolet Camaro Concept that’s taut,
athletic and poised, with a long hood, short rear deck and wide stance.

Midland senior Jeffrey Habeck said the new Camaro redefines the
muscle car for the 21st Century.

“The Camaro’s kind of been my favorite car and they discontinued it
a few years ago,” he said. “They’re trying to bring it back, and the
car’s just amazing.”

Shaped to evoke the classic sixties-era Camaro, the concept’s
performance is Corvette-inspired with a LS2 small block V8 engine. It
boasts six-speed manual transmission with widely spaced ratios for
aggressive acceleration and efficient highway cruising.

American Honda made history this year as Honda brands won both the
2006 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.

The Honda Civic captured the Car of the Year award, over the Ford
Fusion and Pontiac Solstice. The Honda Ridgeline captured Truck of the
Year honors, beating out the Nissan Xterra and Ford Explorer.

Glass cases surrounding high-end vehicles – like Rolls Royce,
Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche and even Cadillac – are rarely left without a
full crowd.

Midland senior Jorge Soto said his favorite exhibit was BMW’s, and
his favorite vehicle was the Chevy Corvette.

“What stuck out more was any vehicle under $50,000 because pretty
soon I’ll be graduating and it may be a reality that I can afford
something like that,” he said. “I would go for a Corvette – that’s the
dream car.”

Another crowd-pleasing exhibit is Mini, a division of BMW of North
America, LLC. The Mini Coopers, the world’s first street-legal
go-carts, fill the showcase with novelty designs that include the
Detroit Mini Cooper Concept, painted silver and blue.

Toyota’s interactive showcase also is an attention-getter with
interactive computers and a floor full of hybrid vehicles including the
futuristic looking Fine-T and F3R concept vehicles.

Toyota’s F3R Concept minivan with a more-than-modern look and hybrid
powertrain, caught Habeck’s eye.

“I called it the moon van … because it was white, really big and
long and futuristic,” he said. “It’s something you might see on the
moon if the moon was colonized.”

This year’s show – renamed North American International Auto Show in
1989 – is the 18th international show.

On Saturday alone, 95,662 attended the public show’s opening day,
according to an associate from John Bailey, Public Relations, who
released the results tallied by NAIAS.

As of Monday, the public relations firm said a total of 356,358
people – including those involved in events precluding the public show
– have attended the 2006 show.

The NAIAS adds more than $500 million annually to the Southeast
Michigan economy, with nearly $100 million directly to the city,
according to statistics provided by the North American International
Auto Show, LLC.

Combined with the 2006 Super Bowl, the economic impact of NAIAS is
estimated to bring nearly $1 billion to Southeast Michigan.

The Auto Show has been a major focus in Lansing and Gov. Jennifer
Granholm is using the event to show Michigan is the global center of
the automotive industry.

“Our concept of Michigan’s future is to continue to be the center of
this vital industry and to continue to be a manufacturing power house
for decades to come,” Granholm said in her Jan. 13 radio address.

The Democratic governor said work is already underway to diversify
the state’s economy and maintain a manufacturing edge via a $2 billion
21st Century Jobs fund that will invest in alternative energy and
advanced manufacturing businesses.

“That fund will create 72,000 jobs, all kinds of jobs for all kinds
of people, but jobs that will make us competitive as a state,” Granholm
said.

So even after the crowds at Cobo Hall subside, she said, the eyes of
the world still will be on Michigan.

“They’ll be looking to see what the next great innovation will be,”
Granholm said. “Perhaps it’ll be a new car with a fuel cell engine. Or,
maybe it’ll be a life-saving drug, or advanced technology used by our
troops overseas.”