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del.icio.usWe took hundreds of pictures at the show, which can be seen in the 2006 North American International Auto Show image gallery. Below are commentaries on some of the notable vehicles seen at the show.
Production Cars
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
It costs a fortune and you don't even get a roof!
Audi S6 V10
The V10 engine in the Audi S6 comes from the Lamborghini Gallardo, which was based on an Audi five-cylinder. What goes around, comes around.
Ford GT
It turns out that the Ford GT looks amazing in black as well. This was one of my favourite cars at the show, along with the Mercedes SLR.
Dodge Charger Super Bee
The hostess presenting the Dodge Charger Super Bee asked the audience if it deserved the classic Charger name. I think it does not, because it has four doors instead of two.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is an outstanding car, but the styling is just not nice enough.
Ferrari F430 Challenge
The Ferrari F430 Challenge is the undiluted track version of the F430. It was kept far from the crowd, probably to keep hundreds of fingerprints off of it.
Ferrari F430 Spyder
The Ferrari F430 Spyder wasn't all that much to look at, but the engine is gorgeous.
Jaguar XK Convertible
The Jaguar XK Convertible is a nice car, but the convertible top really takes away from the look of the car. The coupe is much nicer.
Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster
The Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster is about the size of a Civic, but with about 2 ½ times the cylinders and horsepower.
Mercedes McLaren SLR
The Mercedes McLaren SLR was probably my favourite car at the show. That long hood and side exhausts are just awesome. This is what a car should look like.
Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO was the most comfortable car I have ever sat in. It puts BMWs and other high end cars to shame. The V8 power and rear-wheel drive isn't too bad either.
Saleen S7
The Saleen S7 was one of the more flashy cars at the show. It was against the side of the building, and getting any decent pictures was difficult.
Subaru B9 Tribeca
The Subaru B9 Tribeca was probably the ugliest vehicle at the show, and probably the ugliest vehicle I have ever seen. The interior is worse, if you can imagine. Beauty might be skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is the first Toyota with a specific purpose and decent styling since the turn of the century.
Concept Cars
Chevrolet Camaro Concept
The Chevrolet Camaro Concept was easily one of the most popular cars at the show, along with the Dodge Challenger.
BMW Z4 Coupe Concept
The BMW Z4 Coupe Concept was displayed as BMW's latest attempt to market a car styled by someone of limited mental capacity.
Volvo C30 Concept
The Volvo C30 Concept appears to be an overweight Hot Hatch. It probably drives like one too.
Chrysler Imperial Concept
The Chrysler Imperial Concept is huge. Who says land yachts are dead?
Dodge Challenger Concept
The Dodge Challenger Concept was another very popular car at the show. Getting pictures of it was harder than getting pictures of any of the Ferraris.
Ford Mustang GT500 Concept
The Ford Mustang GT500 was a concept car at the auto show. It wasn't given much attention from Ford themselves, at least not the day I was there.
Infiniti GT-R Coupe Concept
The Infiniti GT-R Coupe Concept was easily the nicest Japanese car at the auto show, and one of the nicest cars in general.
Lamborghini Miura Concept
The Lamborghini Miura was a nice car in the 60s, but if you ask me, the Lamborghini Miura Concept is even nicer, right now.
Subaru B5 TPH Concept
The Subaru B5 TPH Concept shows what Subaru would try to put into production if the public would let them.
Toyota F3R Concept
The Toyota F3R Concept should help shake any stereotypes that Japanese vehicles are "white goods". This looks almost nothing like a chest freezer on wheels.
Toyota Volta Hybrid Concept
The Toyota Volta Hybrid Concept is some sort of hybrid supercar. There wasn't much info on it.
Other Cars
Subaru WRX STI Rally Car
This is an example of a decent looking Subaru. It looked very out of place next to its stable mates.
Renault F1
The Renault F1 car was probably the most powerful car at the show, but I can't imagine trying to take it through a McDonald's drive-thru. I'll pass.
Drivetrain Components
Chevy LS2 Small Block
It's strange to think that something this simple makes 400hp naturally aspirated and gets close to 30mpg.
392 Hemi Crate Engine
The 392 HEMI crate engine was on display. It makes 510HP according to the poster.
Cummins Diesel
This 5.9L diesel inline-6 has four valves per cylinder which are actuated by pushrods. The pistons are enormous.
Variable Valve Timing
This Ford engine shows one implementation of variable valve timing. This particular engine uses a solenoid which changes the path of oil flow to hydraulically advance or retard the cam relative to the sprocket.
6-Speed Hydramatic
GM had their new 6-speed automatic, the 6L80E, on display.
Other Stuff
Chevy Venture Moving Seat
This Chevy Venture was fitted with a seat that came right out of the vehicle. It would be ideal for elderly or disabled people, but my sources say that most customers will need it to facilitate their super-sized lifestyle.
