2001_AutoShow

First things first: we aren't talking about the Detroit show or some kind of huge gala. Still, its still pretty cool. The Big Three usually has their 1-3 year-old concepts there and the countless free Saturn and Toyota bags aren't to be missed!
The show is on two levels. The ground floor is pretty much a Japanese/Korean colony, with BMW and Audi as the two Euro marques. Outside that room on the ground floor, there was an array of Euro luxury brands, including Jaguar and quirkly ol' SAAB. Off in a corner was the "multi-million dollar exotic car display" or whatever they called it. Basically, a bunch of expensive Italian sports cars. Land Rovers and Suzuki (yeah, what's up with that?) rounded off the ground floor.

The second floor was the heart of the show. The Big Three and all their divisions were there, as well as Toyota/Lexus, Nissan, and Mazda. I pretty much hung out at the GM sector and checked the things out there.
Pontiac's pavillion featured the Pirahna concept car, which garnered some attention, as well as the Aztek, where all the real little kids were playing - sorta like one of those Burger King playpens with no plastic balls. Cadillac had the new CTS on the turntable, but none on the floor. All the stalwarts were there, including the last Eldorado. Oldsmobile...poor Olds. Virtually no one was there. Nothing new except for the Bravada. Moving on....Buick had perhaps the best car at the entire show: the LaCrosse - more on it later. GMC had several Envoys and a Sierra C3 among others. Chevrolet had this nifty Impala that had what I guess are dealer-supplied aftermarket gear, including a rear panel that blocked out most of the taillamp reflector and special wheels. Saturn had the Vue, and the women presenting it was making such a big deal out of the dent-resistant panels by "hitting" (actually tapping) the sides. Wanna prove your point? Get Joe Pesci and an aluminium baseball bat, then I'll believe it.

The car that everyone hovered around was the LaCrosse. Painted in a beautiful vermillion (I guess), the LaCrosse combines Buick's past with its potential future. Design elements include cool ventiports from the 50s, traditional 4-spoke steering wheel, and the sweepsear, which is the hump by the rear C-pillar of the car. New technologies include Internet/DVD for passangers, 4.2-liter OHC V8, voice-activated everything (say "open doors" into the key fob and it does it -- I actually tried it), and -- not a trunk -- but a retractable rear tailgate/roof panel that makes it essentially a light pickup.

Word is that the LaCrosse is destined to replace the current Park Avenue as Buick's flagship car. The Park is a nice car, especially in supercharged Ultra form, but its time has passed. Hopefully, the huge trend of crossover vehicles will mean that the production LaCrosse will retain many of the features that the concept presents.