2007 L.A. Auto Show Winners and Losers: Concepts
There weren’t a lot of new concept cars at this year’s L.A. auto show, but Cars.com’s David Thomas, Joe Wiesenfelder and Mike Hanley take some time to dissect the four that were rolled out on the L.A. floor. The show ends Sunday, so hurry down to check these cars out, along with the many more new production cars.
DT: Winner
I personally wouldn’t want a convertible riding at SUV height, but maybe Audi’s on to something here. Research shows that female drivers like the height of SUVs; maybe this is the convertible for them. Whatever the demographic, the Audi was a stunner in person, especially the golden color scheme and great overall proportions.
JW: Winner
I’ve been a fan of the deep grilles Audi has begun to use, but even I think this one is over the top. I’m not wild about the slablike rear end, either. But it’s becoming hard to stand out in this market, and Audi has done it with this high-riding, large-wheeled convertible. Also, to Dave’s point, the height should be a benefit in collisions, in which topless cars are usually at a significant disadvantage.
MH: Winner
Even though Audi says this concept is supposed to hint at an upcoming small crossover SUV, when you take it for what it is — a convertible — the Cross Cabriolet Quattro is a compact droptop in the vein of VW’s now-discontinued Cabrio, though obviously more upscale. With assertive looks and that pumpkin paintjob, it gets the nod.
DT: Loser
It was a nice-looking coupe, but it sure didn’t need the wild color scheme and overanxious hood. Hyundai still hasn’t figured out what it’s supposed to be as a carmaker, and I don’t see why we should look to it for a Mustang competitor. I’d rather see Hyundai make a smaller sports car.
JW: Winner
I’m giving Hyundai a lot of room on this one because it’s mainly a design study, and though it’s a bit exaggerated, I like it. Hyundai continues to reach, and I think that’s a good thing. Sporty chassis haven’t been the company’s strong suit, so I’ll need to be convinced. On a side note, once the car was on a turntable, I noticed from a look at the passive rear axle that it’s either front- or no-wheel drive, but that’s surprisingly common among show cars, which sometimes have no engine or interior.
MH: Winner
Hyundai’s really styled a looker with its Genesis coupe concept, which has a sleek muscularity to it. It makes extensive use of carbon fiber — a requisite material for sporty cars — but goes a little bit over the top with its use. The hood, roof, front and rear bumper appliqués — even the vents in front of the rear wheels — all make use of this material. Hyundai can do this because the Genesis coupe is a concept, but who knows? Maybe a production model (if one is ever built) would get some of this fancy trim.
DT: Winner
Kia went wild with this one and says it is a glimpse at the future of Kia’s SUV design. I don’t know about the front, but the squared-off backside is pretty cool. The clever cargo compartment in back is one concept that should go into production pronto.
JW: Winner
The short greenhouse and ginormous wheels will never make it into mass production, but it’s a concept, and if Kia follows this design direction in the future it will be in good shape. Hyundai bought Kia years ago, and there’s still not enough differentiation to justify having two brands.
MH: Loser
The KND-4 actually looks a little too production-ready for the wild world of concepts, with a grille and headlights that are fairly conventional. The designers took a little more liberty with the car’s profile styling, which has short side windows, the rearmost of which angle sharply downward as they meet the triangular D-pillars. Overall, though, it all seems like variations of things that have been done before.
DT: Winner
I still don’t know what I think of the design. It’s so nondescript it’s hard to love or hate it. What is cool is the take on a small car that actually can hold four people. Forget the futuristic powertrain and gadgets; they could easily build something like this using current technology to take on the Scion xBs of the world.
JW: Loser
I’m done with the xB and cars of its ilk, and I suspect other buyers are, too. Whether the system works or not, any concept that’s claimed to use a hydrogen fuel cell — and thus implicitly perpetuates the notion that it will be a viable alternative soon — just bugs the hell out of me.
MH: Loser
There’s a bit too much four-seat golf cart in the Space Up! Blue for me, though it’s neat that the fuel-cell concept can also be charged and driven on battery power alone.
