2006 North American International Auto Show

We love these big international auto shows. We really do. But one frustrating thing about them—especially this January's Motor City soirée of sculpted metal and glass—is that the newest and juiciest goodies are always just out of reach. They're up there on revolving platforms, rotating tantalizingly so that every nuance of color and surface taunts and tempts in the most flattering of light. But can we settle into their soft leather seats, turn a key, feel an engine come to life, engage a gear, press a pedal, turn a wheel?


Maybe in a few months. Maybe a year. Maybe longer. It's a bit like pressing our noses against the bakery window and salivating over warm, fresh cookies and cakes—just after closing. Sure, there's a lot of great new stuff out there now, beautiful, exciting new cars and trucks you may have gazed at and coveted over a year ago, but the best of each year's hot new machinery is always just over that horizon.

Trends
As always, several important trends were apparent at Detroit 2006. Most significant: car-based "crossover" utility vehicles (CUVs) have replaced traditional truck-based SUVs as the U.S. market's fastest-growing group. This transition has been driven by high fuel prices and by consumers simply tiring of truck-like bulk, weight, ride and handling. New CUVs are emerging by the dozens in a mind-boggling variety of brands, shapes and sizes, all trying hard to marry the image and utility of SUVs with the efficiency and dynamics of family sedans.


Second is the re-emergence of compact and subcompact driven mostly by fuel economy concerns. Third is the slowly-but-surely growing field of complex, fuel-saving hybrids, both gas/electric and diesel/electric. Fourth is the long-awaited, much-needed renaissance of exciting domestic design at GM and Ford, while Chrysler remains well ahead of that curve.

Awards
Among the many important announcements during the pre-public press days: North American Car and Truck of the Year, as voted by a panel of 49 impartial automotive journalists. Honda swept both awards this year with its new Civic small car line and its CUV-based Ridgeline pickup, beating out runners-up Ford Fusion and Pontiac Solstice for the car award and Nissan XTerra and Ford Explorer for the truck trophy.