Auto Shows and a Selection of New Looks
Auto shows get the manufacturers, magazines editors, general public and other industry buffs all together to debut the latest unveilings for next year's production and prototype vehicles. Things get kicked off every year in Detroit at the largest recognized exhibit of the auto tour. It's seven day showcase occurs in the third week of January and then monthly stops continue from there hitting Chicago, Geneva, Switzerland, New York and the recently held Monterrey Concurs at Pebble Beach. All are what you would expect from such an event where many makes and models are attractively positioned in corridors of a large convention hall, offering plenty of space for attendees to browse. However the Monterrey Concur is a different form, it's emphasis is on rare classic cars that auctioneers might fetch prices into the seven digits from prospective buyers. More on that later. But since more than half the year is behind us, taking a look at some of the vehicles that underwent major changes or are making debut appearances to dealerships come 2013 is worth looking at. The big trend seems to be going towards electric hybrid engines that run on lithium ion batteries in conjunction with the standard fuel powered component to ensure speed and distance.
The Ford Fusion offers a fuel/electric hybrid model as well as the standard fuel engine. This sylish looking domestic is in the mid sized class category, the highest selling in America and is likely to take some market share with it's eco sensitivity, look and price. The standard four cylinder and V6 automatics give buyers a price consideration that begins in the low $20k range and can get to almost $30k with all of the options. In 2010 Ford rolled out the cross over vehicle Edge which is roomy and beefy enough to convince many would be Explorer buyers to change their mind in favor of this new addition to the Ford SUV lineup.
Cadillac decreased the size of the CTS that was brought out nine years ago to compete with the 3 and 5 series BMW but never gained the hype that it was hoping for. So new next year, a smaller ATS model will be available to fit that market that could show some potential as its sleek styling and high performance as tested on Germany's Nurburgring road course won high marks.
Honda isn't making major changes to it's standard bearer Accord for 2013 but it did unveil an Accord Coupe protytpe that with a shortened two door body and sleek dimensions will likely offer new car buyers in 2014 a chance to get in on the four or six cylinder fuel or efficient hybrid although a definate production date hasn't been announced.
Hyundai has been serving the affordable midlevel compact and sedan buyers for several years. The 
Elantra was rated car of the year at this year's Detroit show. It's a great price point at the 17k-21k range and comes available in a smooth looking five door hatchback Touring Edition that would make any family traveler comfortable. Engine specs lack a lot of power however so for someone seeking more performance in a Hyundai, the Genesis rear wheeled drive coupe with a turbo four or six cylinder is available in manual transmission and priced to sell at $25k-$31k. On the stylish yet affordability grid, the second year manufacturing of the Veloster by Hyundai gets noticed for starting at just $17k and offers a mere 140hp but with the turbo engine at around $21k, this upgrade version is plenty sporty for the manual transmission two door model.
Lexus has set the standard for Japanese luxury since it's inception in 1989 from it's Toyota parent and has since brought to market one of the largest product lines of any car company with models included in nearly every class size. The only production line change ups for this year though
is the ES350, now offered in either automatic or manual as well as an electric hybrid four cylinder motor. The look and feel of this mid size industry standard hasn't changed much over the years but for 2013 a sporty, dark translucent roof with greater leg and head room make it desirable as does a well crafted leather and wood interior. Last year saw the release of Lexus's first ultra high-end sports car called the LFA which retails at $375,000. It's engine performance as would be expected against the top notch competitors Lamborghini and Ferrari, as the LFA boasts a 553 horsepower, 10 cylinder six speed transmission. Opting for this Japanese counterpart over the Italian legacies might be unwise at this early stage. It may just be preferable to see how it holds up on the race track circuit competitions first.
The Mercedes Benz SL(super light) class has always stood out as a leader in classic sports cars. The tenured production of this two door beauty has been around since the '70s as it's overall look has just modestly progressed through time. The engine size originally was 460 cubic centimeters and now comes with 550cc turbo 4.4 liter turbo
V8. That translates into sturdy high powered exhilaration for a small convertible with a replaceable hard top. Also an engineering modification on the E300 is now offering a diesel/electric hybrid that will debut in Europe for 2013. The specs include it's BlueTec engine design that should no less than wow drivers with it's German innovation but a time line for it's appearance in the states in unknown.
Not intending to get carried away in the high-end luxury car market as the topic for this auto 
review but things would seem incomplete if we didn't stick with the theme and mention the Active Hybrid 3 and 5 series set for sale by BMW. These cars pack that standard impressive look with the 5 series sporting a contoured hood for a little bit more stylistic elegance. There is no compromise in speed or power in selecting the electric hybrid over it's gas powered brethren. The 5 series has a 0-60 time of 5.7 secords. The 3 series has the 6 cylinder 335i with the eclectic drive system boasting an average mpg of 37.
Saab, the swedish car company that has long prided itself on it's engine quality that is as recognized as the force behind a small line aviation planes as well as it's trademark strong torque engine that handles uphill challenges in it's native
country or the Rocky Mountains as they're used as ski resort police cars in Colorado. Yet the company experienced a financial setback that led to it's buyout by GM then a divestiture and eventual bankruptcy. However the company has continued it's production and sales on a slim product line as it's under the ownership of a Dutch manufacturer called Spyker. But a joint partnership with Spyker and China's Zhejiang Youngman was just announced Monday that will begin production on a futuristic looking roadster mobile called the Phoenix. The venture is 20% Spyker and 80% Youngman. A glimpse of a prototype from one of this year's auto shows is seen here.