Two newsworthy cars missing at recent Car Shows

Two of the most newsworthy cars of the year were not on display at the recent Los Angeles & San Francisco Car Shows.  One didn’t need to be there; the other couldn’t get there.

The first car is the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, to be produced in only 500 examples, 84 of which are coming to the United States, at a price slightly under $300,000.  By any measure, it’s another Italian masterpiece!  If these 84 cars aren’t already sold, they soon will be.  The 8c Alfa Romeo goes back to a series made in a very small number between 1932 and 1938.  They raced at Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and other races and often won because the road car wasn’t so different from the contemporaneous Formula One Alfa Romeo.  Many people, writer included, consider the 8c Alfas the most outstanding cars ever made.

The second car not to appear was the $100,000 Tesla all-electric roadster, conceived by a Silicon Valley group who expected to run rings around established automakers. A few weeks ago, having delivered only a few dozen cars, they were contemplating a $400,000,000 bailout request, or $6-7 million per car actually completed. They were also trying to perfect the engine, transmission and the complicated logistics of making it all come together, otherwise known as auto manufacturing.

Of the cars that actually did make it to the shows, the past and the future of the auto industry was vividly illustrated.

At each show vast areas devoted to GM and Chrysler cars were-all-but-uninhabited, while the European and Asian exhibits offered desirable new models, technical innovation and plenty of life.

You’ve heard a lot about the death of the United States automobile industry.  But only the tired, old, UAW-dominated companies are in trouble. There is a whole new (in the last 25 years) non-UAW auto manufacturing industry, in Tennessee (Nissan and VW), Ohio (Honda), Kentucky, Texas, Indiana (Toyota), Alabama (Hyundai & Mercedes), South Carolina (BMW), and others.  These are the factories producing cars that you probably want to buy; Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz ML and others.

You can’t help but smile when you see the Nissan Cube, the latest wacky (but practical) box-like car from Japan.  Also from Nissan, the new GT-R, Nob Hill Gazette’s Car of the Year. Ferrari must be biting their nails waiting for the first road test comparison matching the $80,000 Nissan against the Ferrari 430.  There’s already a vigorous argument in Germany, debating the merits of this new Nissan against Porsche’s best!  Also from Nissan came the new 370Z two seater sports coupe – descendant of the 240Z that redefined the sports car market in the 1970’s.  Their Infiniti division showed a G37 convertible aimed directly at similar cars from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.

Toyota didn’t rock the boat so much.  A new model called Venza is a sort-of tall, sleek station wagon.  Lexus showed some bland but well-executed hybrids.

Honda only showed alternative fuel vehicles during press days at the Los Angeles Show.  In addition to being frugal the cars they showed are stylish and sexy.  By resisting the temptation to show their full line, they emphasized their effective solutions.

Hyundai (Korea) stated their intention to move from #3 to #1 company in fuel economy.  Bold goal, but its only a few years since they aimed to become the #5 car company worldwide, ahead of Nissan, Mercedes, BMW and lots of others.  They achieved that in the face of widespread skepticism.  Don’t bet against them on fuel economy.  They’re also attacking the fuel economy issue with a strategy different from Toyota.  Instead of charging a premium for a hybrid, they intend to tweak their least expensive cars to deliver very high mileage figures, so you won’t have to calculate how many years it’ll take you to get even on fuel cost vs. the big price premium.  Hyundai also showed a Ford Mustang – challenging Genesis coupe-high style, high performance.

Also from Korea, Kia showed another interpretation of a box-shaped car ,the Kia Soul. Cheap & cheerful.

From Europe, the big news is Diesels.  If you haven’t driven a contemporary European Diesel, you’re in for a big eye-opener when you do.  They’re about as quiet as gasoline engines now, use a lot less fuel, and produce noticeably more power.  Various models of Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen, generally their bigger wagons, will soon be available with Diesel power.

So the battle lines are drawn-German Diesels vs. Japanese hybrids.  You’ll have to decide which technology appeals to you.

The only bright spot for the Americans was provided by Ford with some very handsome Fords (Flex and Mustang) and newly desirable Lincolns, especially the MKS sedan. Unfortunately for “our side” its unlikely that an objective observer would prefer the Lincoln to the lower priced upstart, Hyundai Genesis sedan.

The best part of these shows are the exotic car displays.  San Francisco featured a spectacular Bentley Azure Convertible in white with tan leather.  I didn’t even want to sit in it for fear I’d want to drive it right out the door.

Another car, previously reviewed by The Nob Hill Gazette is the Maserati Gran Turismo, a two door, four seater coupe that may be the most outstanding piece of automotive sculpture on the road today.  It’s a lovely car to drive too.  And at a little over $100,000 it may be the all time bargain in automotive exotica.