2011 Detroit: our take on the Good, Bad And Ugly From this year’s show

This yea Chrysler’s display is bright, full of new 300s, Dodge Chargers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, plus facelifted Chrysler Town & Countrys, and Sebrings magically turned into relatively tasteful 200s. Those 200s are short-timers, designed to help Chrysler’s midsize lineup limp along for another couple of years.

Amidst all the glowing bright lights. No, the paucity of concepts isn’t the sobriety of an auto industry that only wants to show realistic, near-production cars. The “dream” cars will be back in a year or two. This is the budget-cut hangover. 

Nevertheless, there’s plenty of reality and near-reality to love and hate at this year’s show. 

Most obvious best of this or any show, ever:

Porsche 918 RSR. It’s feel-good, relatively guilt-free speed courtesy a hybrid mid-engine 3.4-liter V-8 with an electric flywheel, producing 563 horsepower at 10,300 rpm until the driver pushes the KERs button for a 204-horsepower kick. With its carbon-fiber reinforced monocoque.

 est concept, by default:

  Actually, it’s both, a preview of the 2013 Ford Escape/next Kuga. It’s a stylish crossover that will be available with a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four. Pay no attention to the very car-showy interior.

It was the best of reveals, it was the worst of reveals:

Frank Markus gives it two big thumbs up. Ed Loh calls it the “vomit toaster.” Jonny Lieberman is ambivalent, though slightly positive. Angus MacKenzie is largely ambivalent. Mike Floyd is ambivalent. Kirill Ougarov likes it. Scott Evans is indifferent. Mike Febbo doesn’t care, much. I think it’s the world’s best Saturn Ion, though that’s not nearly as negative as it sounds. It’s arguably the most interesting design here, and would have made a great, funky two-door coupe. Having two different b-pillars makes it that much more interesting, and it’s a very light, affordable little car with an optional twin-clutch transmission.

Concept most overwhelmed by another production model on the same stand:

Hyundai Curb. Looks like a 13/10ths scale Scion iQ. Nobody paid attention, because the Veloster looked like Hyundai’s concept.

Best killer app:

 Angus figures with a 43-mpg (highway) TDI option and best-in-class rear legroom, this is the midsize sedan for which middle-America has been waiting. Of course, the TDI is a long way from being the $20,000 base version. To me, sitting in the back seat feels like being in a de-contented Phaeton, which is not at all a bad thing. The question is, what if the market is about to revert to smaller c/d-size, with four-bangers only, again?

Biggest disappointment:

Did it give up the Civic’s proclivity for TARDIS-like big inside/small outside design, what with the deep-draw shoulder-line that makes it easy to distinguish from the 2006-11 Civic?

Jonny Lieberman’s Worst in Show:

 It’s worth it for the shorter name, alone. “One hell of a fine car (probably),” he says, “but wrapped in a tragic body kit. The front end looks like something your neighbor’s kid might graft onto the front of an Accord. From the side, the sills appear like they’re drooping, with the lowest part under the driver’s knees. The rear’s no peach, either, with odd slits cut into the bumper and strange flairs molded above the exhaust tips.