Wednesday 15th January 2014

Chris Harris at Detroit Day 2: PH Blog

Stunned by the RC F, mortified by the STI and scared in a taxi; Monkey tells all from Detroit

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Day one of the Detroit Auto Show ended in the back of a stuttering minivan Taxi wondering if I might not make it back to the hotel. Detroit is turning the corner but to this slightly pathetic West County lad, it's still a mite scary in places.

Makes an M4 look ordinary says Chris

Lexus compounded my embarrassment at tweeting the wrong coupe yesterday by unveiling a complete stunner. The RC F has over 450hp from a naturally aspirated V8 at a time when all the competition has chosen the turbo route. The styling is sharp, the proportions are bang-on and it makes the M4 Coupe seem a little, well, ordinary. The front grille is, however, silly.

Mortified is probably too strong a word to describe the moment I clapped eyes on the new Subaru WRX STI, but the deflation was rapid and unpleasant. What the hell have they done? Do they clinic this stuff with people before releasing it into the public domain? I know I'm not the arbiter of what looks right, but this just doesn't work for me. It's the styling language of 1997, done very badly. Let's hope it drives well.

The Z06 in metallic graphite looks truly special. The vertical rear wing is most excellent. There are rumoured to be three or four more higher-performance variants of the C7 to come after this one. The Z06 has over 625hp. Where does it end? 1000hp? This from a company that was until recently state-owned. Bloody marvellous.

'Wasn't as bad as I feared'

I still want a Ford Raptor. And a Challenger.

The Acura TLX is that curious thing - a concept car so ordinary looking it could have been in production three years. The Mini Cooper John Works Maxi Thing wasn't as bad as I'd feared. For some reason I actively liked the Beetle with the skis strapped to it. Most embarrassing.

So attuned to the new car industry am I that the stunning Cadillac Elmiraj concept appeared to be brand new. It isn't. That doesn't stop it being quite wonderful to behold. They might build it, allegedly. The Mercedes S600 will only be available to special order in the UK.

Kia's little GT4 Stinger concept was very well judged, Ferrari and Maserati's decision not to make an appearance at the show probably wasn't. Because the USA remains a simply vast market for the automobile.

 

[PascalBuyens]

I stand by my previous comment that the rally or velocity yellow or whatever they call it, doesn't do the Z06 any justice. That grey Z06 is stunning :-)

[exceed]

Z06 and RC-F for me have really stolen the show, fantastic looking cars!

[Krikkit]

That Z06 is pure filth, what a machine!

[Stig]

exceed said:

Z06 and RC-F for me have really stolen the show, fantastic looking cars!

And the TF-1.

Who'da thunk it eh

[The Donster]

And to think I chose the Brussels show over this, as I couldn't be bothered to travel to Detroit this year. Chris sees all manner of exotic machinery, I walk across a faux Abbey Road crossing on the MINI stand.

Still, the world premiere of the Opel Meriva face-lift was immense. *cough*

[Hellbound]

Seems like CH and I agree on the Impreza. I feel vindicated!

[smilo996]

Do any companies still make cars in Detroit?

[anonymous-user]

Is it me, or has the Vette finally understood the European concept of "detail design"? Looks fab!

[Ozone]

WTF happened to the JCW Mini??? Surely someone is having a laugh sticking all that tat on it!!!!!111!!!

[Ali_T]

Strange that everyone on the WRX STI thread loves it! It's only the choice of the old 2.5 chocolate engine that's got everyone annoyed.

[Redaura]

Since when has the Subaru WRX STI ever looked right at launch Chris

[Redaura]

[Redaura]

[AFC1886]

Chris doesn't like the WRX STI because it's not German.

[Redaura]

[Redaura]

[Redaura]

To be fair the shape/style of the STI has never stopped any brits buying them in droves before

[Ali_T]

Given he likes the styling abortion that is the new Mini and admits, in public, to liking the Beetle, I think he needs to get a Y chromosome scan!!!

[Mr Leigh]

I agree - The Subaru looks nasty, and I want a Challenger

[Carl_Docklands]

That vette is beautiful. wow.