As we continue our stroll down the custom made carpet awkwardly laid out at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the Philadelphia Auto Show 2012, the just wrapped up a few weeks ago, we have already taken note of some bright spots amid the surprisingly routine.
We celebrated the risk taking of the Jeep line with the Call of Duty Jeep Rubicon and wished for not only a lower price, but more customization through the line. With baited breath we got a sneak peak of--and are eagerly anticipating--the Infinity JX with a high, but competitive price, for what looks to be welcome entry into the mid size luxury SUV space.
How impressed were we with Toyota’s interactive driving course where anyone with a drivers license could drive their popular hybrids? Very. And how lovely did the ultra-pricey, but ultra appealing Porsche Cayenne Hybrid look on the floor? So very.
But, let’s keep strolling down the replica asphalt carpet (Ok, I know I am totally obsessed with the carpet. It was made to look like a divided lane roadway after all), wipe the pretzel mustard from our shirt, and take a look at some more observations in Part 2 of my coverage of the 2012 Philadelphia Auto Show. Part 1 is here for your review.
How tired are we of the faux exclusive VIP display area afforded the Lamborghini and Ferraris? It harkens back to the 90s (or earlier) when it was trendy at Auto Shows to withhold the access to this lifestyle, until one could actually afford it or could at least pretend they could. But, now? Look, I can’t afford one of these mystery machines, but I wouldn’t pass up on the chance to sit in one without having to be approved by the dealer ahead of time. Isn’t this what an auto show is all about? Letting the common person check out cars they may not know about or be able to afford? I like to think it is, at least.
I also like to think that by now, these companies understand that a 22 year old scruffy kid might be running an internet start up and have the stock or the cash to actually afford a 250K car. They already have the image of being available to a select customer, why continue to rub our faces in it? They know their audience better than anyone, but this contrived tactic is tone-deaf in this age of access and transparency.
I don’t know about you, but I remember when a person would go to an auto show and walk out with some nice manufacturer tchotchkes. Often, there would be a nice bag, some lanyards, lots of printed materials and posters. These days you really don’t get much of anything for your entry fee. SUV makers have cut way back on that stuff which is kind of sad since people really enjoy a nice key chain or even a nice pen. I am not being sarcastic and I am not being greedy, but those kinds of items sat around a home or office and reminded you of an experience at the Auto Show, or of the nice guy telling you about the latest models on the stage. Now, you get nothing. Maybe a brochure if they have some left. What happened to all of the good times, baby?
Let me get to the SUV’s, because what the Auto Show did was remind me why certain SUVs continue to dominate while so many others continue to stagnate. The 2012 Toyota Sequoia is an exercise in quality and consistency. It is fascinating how other companies are trying any means necessary to try to get to that space. The interior is very welcoming and impressively luxurious with just the right touches. The interior space of 120 cubic feet after the front seats is ridiculous for the price, as is the power. The Limited with a 5.7L V8 and 381 horse-power is more than many can muster at this price point of around 60K. At the Sequoia’s lowest end, the SR5, is 41K which is astounding considering many mid size SUVs are having a hard time doing well at 39-41K.
Competing in the higher end space is the formidable competition of the Land Rover LR4. The LR4 isn’t a huge seller, but it does draw a crowd at the show. At a base price of 49K and decked out at 57K, it is a strong competitor to the Sequoia. Though it is not as roomy, and a touch less powerful at 370 hp with a 5.0 L V8, it is well appointed--in the true British tradition-and I have always loved the unique body style. It still looks like nothing else on the road. Same for the new Evoque, which I swear is more car than a SUV, but whatever.
The Range Rover group still holds sway over design, credibility in functionality, and the never ending high-end appeal. But, it is clear to me that the category is much thicker because of the Sequoia and even the venerable yet elusive Land Cruiser displayed. It is a very exciting category right now and should be for years to come. The Toyota’s are the thinking mans luxury while the Land Rover group is for those with a little more daring and a little more cash. Both groups looked good at the Auto Show and effectively displayed their attributes to adoring Philadelphians.
Another SUV that continues to evolve ever so slowly is the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe line. Stepping into these cars is truly a pleasure. The interiors are quality with a sturdiness that not all SUVs have figured out. Leathers that look right, trims that look right and accoutrement that feels hefty in some way. These SUVs have the touch of more expensive SUVs at a fraction of the price. It is so weird to me that in the lunch room at GM, hypothetically, the Suburban and Enclave guys and gals are all there chowing on coney island hot dogs (a Detroit delicacy if ever there was one).. and nobody has once shared notes. A Buick guy should have said “Can we share the hydraulics of the back lift gate? Ours is so weak.” Stuff like that could have helped Buick a immensely. Or “Why are you guys creating the Encore when no one really likes the bigger Enclave?” An excellent question never asked.
GM has made so many refinements on the Suburban and Tahoe, that there is not much to quibble with for 2012. Yes, they are big SUVs to be sure, with big V8s and thirsty as hell, but they drive smaller and are not awful on the check book. A solid Tahoe is around 50K while it will take about 60K for a robust Suburban, but look at it; just about the same price as the Toyota Sequoia and the Suburban falls within the whisker of the Land Cruiser. They have narrowed the gap with Toyota in this line of SUVs, which is kind of exciting actually.
Exciting to me, but I am a nerd, so of course it would be. The Auto Accessory Square I didn’t get. This was the home of the odd-ball products like the iphone case guy with 600 different cases and the miracle squeegee guy with some sort of wonder cloth that will clean stuff up. There must have been a dozen of these weird products tucked right into the Square. These vendors have a place and they pay for their space, and it is all good but, you know, usually there is a separate space for these guys away from the premium manufactures. To place them in between Kia and Mini cheapened the experience for me.
For the 2013 auto show, will an SUV manufacturer please design a space like that of BMW’s Mini line. These guys always nail it. Custom designed carpets, custom stage, custom everything. Beautiful, larger than life presentation for one of the smallest cars on the planet. You’d think that the BMW folks would swap ideas and get one going for the BMW X5 which needs a little excitement. On the opposite side, if you are taking notes, Chrysler’s Fiat was just sitting there with no sexiness. Shame that it must park near all of the other mediocre Chrysler offerings. It is also fair to say that the female models at the Mini display were at least as beautiful as those at the Porsche display. That’s says it all because I guess I always expect every space to be filled with beautiful women selling cars. Not the case. Oh well.
The 2012 Philadelphia Auto Show proved that a day spent among the auto community’s best offerings is a day well spent. Many excellent vehicles that deserve first and second looks. Still, manufacturers could do much better in how they present at our auto show. They could try much harder for us, give us more concept SUVs and turn on the charm a lot more. The Philadelphia area is a major market for selling vehicles and only a few companies really tried to impress within the walls of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The rest just showed up with offerings we have seen many, many times before. We deserve better for our entry fee and for God’s sake, we deserve tchotchkes!
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