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Automakers put on their best for Detroit auto show
In this story:
January 17, 1997
Web posted at: 6:45 a.m. ESTDETROIT (CNN) -- Automakers from around the world put their brightest and best on display this week at the North American International Auto Show, accompanied by everything from bolts of lightning to a bit of prestidigitation.
They do this sort of thing every year, creating a big splash that they hope buyers will notice and get excited about. And sometimes they have good reason.
Dodge, for example, is hoping the competition will quake with fear over its new Durango, a four-wheel behemoth arriving this fall. The price hasn't yet been set.
Another promising newcomer is the Lincoln Navigator, a high-end luxury sport utility that will hit showrooms later this year. Even those who won't be able to drive one for a few years like what they see.
Fifth generation Corvette on display
One of the more prominent new cars on display here is the fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette. The 1997 version of the sporty and muscular 'Vette marks only the fourth time since 1953 that it has been re-tooled and re-made.
"I think it's a nice combination of the old and new," said one browser at the show.
For those to whom money is no object, the new Mercedes-Benz CLK offers the automobile as a work of art. In the words of one connoisseur, "It's a successful mix of sportiness and elegance."
The latest minivan to join a crowded field is Toyota's Sienna. And for those looking for something a little smaller and spiffier, the Ford ZX2 costs in the low teens and looks like a lot more.
"Not only does it look good," says Ford spokesman Brian Miller in an unabashed display of partisanship, "it's also a blast to drive. It's got a two-liter Z-tec engine which delivers 130 horsepower."
Honda CRV has a picnic table
Most of the cars and trucks show off the same features, such as ABS brakes, dual air bags and AM/FM cassette. But what about those who would like to have a tailgate party, but don't really want a tailgate?
Honda isn't calling the rear door of its new CRV a tailgate, but you can still party, with the standard picnic table that's part of the load floor. Just pop up the legs and you're ready to party.
It's designed to compete with Toyota's RAV4, but the CRV is a little larger. The CRV's base sticker price is only $19,300.
Finally, there is the Oldsmobile Intrigue, another new model that is described as an elegant driver's car. It is Detroit's latest gambit to regain some of the automotive high ground held in recent years by European and Japanese cars.
Return to CNN Interactive all week for Route '97, a series of reports from the Annual North American Auto Show. Each day we will examine another aspect of the auto industy's plans for 1997 -- including a look at the latest offerings from the Big Three.
Related stories:
- Trucks, not cars, are winners with car buyers - January 16, 1997
- Car buyers getting bad case of sticker shock - January 14, 1997
- Route 97: Airbag deaths spur search for improvements - January 13, 1997
- Electric avenue: First rechargable car gets mixed reviews - January 12, 1997
Related sites:
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- Autoweek Online
- BMW Start (lists URLs for BMW sites in different countries)
- Chrysler Corporation
- 1997 Dodge Site
- Ford Motors
- General Motors
- @Toyota
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