2011 Detroit Auto Show Winners & Losers: Production Cars
Concept cars didn’t really steal the show in Detroit this year, but neither did the new cars that will hit dealerships throughout the year. These debuts may be vitally important to each of their respective automakers, but none made the sort of splash this show was eagerly awaiting.
David Thomas: Winner
The big green W is simply because a bigger Prius will get 40 mpg. This will be the most efficient vehicle of its size on the road. However, the styling is so bland inside and out that I’m not sure eco-friendly, fashion-forward families will consider it.
Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
A Prius with more space? Sure, why not, especially if it gets a combined 40 mpg at a time in automotive history when we’re praising compact cars for doing so.
Kelsey Mays: Winner
Toyota’s reputation has been sullied in the past year, but there’s still tremendous equity in the Prius name, recalls notwithstanding. Expanding the lineup has been a long time coming, and the Prius V looks, at first glance, reasonably well executed.
Joe Bruzek: Winner
I was sold on the Prius V the second I sat in the spacious sliding and reclining rear seat. That’s where I’ll stay, too, because I felt overwhelmed sitting in the driver’s seat looking at the cluster of dashboard, stereo, climate controls and the new Entune grouped together in the middle.
*The C-Class wasn’t on the show floor during the media days for the rest of the team to weigh in on.
