Charger sedan, Ridgeline truck most dazzling vehicles...

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MARK PHELAN: Charger sedan, Ridgeline truck most dazzling vehicles for this year

January 20, 2005






MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST



The 2005 North American International Auto Show is entering the home stretch, so here are a few thoughts as its final weekend approaches.



Best in show
Cars: Dodge Charger. I couldn't care less that it's a sedan, and the original Charger was a coupe. It's beautiful, fast and affordable and can carry a family of five.


Trucks: Honda Ridgeline. In retrospect, a pickup with a trunk is such a great idea that it's hard to believe no one did it sooner. I would be shocked if the Ridgeline is not a huge hit.



Biggest disappointment
Cars: Chevrolet HHR. Chevy's retro-styled belated answer to Chrysler's hit PT Cruiser. It's got the look of a '49 Suburban, but five years after the Cruiser debuted it can't match the Cruiser's marvelously flexible interior and mini-me gangster charm. If you're going to show up at the party late, bring a good bottle of wine.


Concepts: Ford Synus. Ford's attempt to convince us it can build a cool little car mostly proves why Ford hasn't done it yet. The oddly named Synus' silly features include bulletproof glass, armored doors and a 45-inch flat-screen TV. Ford says the made-up name should be pronounced "Sin-U-S. Adding insult to ineptitude, the "US" stands for "urban sanctuary."



Unjustly underappreciated car
Pontiac Solstice: A beautiful and sporty little convertible that will sell for less than $20,000 when it goes on sale this fall. The Solstice would be the runaway hit at most shows, but it's gotten far too little attention at this one because Pontiac revealed it to us last year and has now moved on to promoting its midsize G6 sedan, coupe and convertible.



Most pleasant surprise
The Mitsubishi Raider midsize pickup. It's based on the excellent Dodge Dakota, but it looks like a completely new truck. Its distinctive styling makes it the most memorable Mitsubishi in years.



Cars I can't wait to drive in 2005
BMW M5 - A 500-horsepower V10 and BMW handling. Need I say more?


Dodge Charger - Please, sir, may I have another Hemi?


Ford Fusion - The first Ford to use the wonderful Mazda 6 chassis ought to be a very entertaining and practical family car.


Ford Mustang Convertible - The new Mustang coupe is a joy. It's hard to imagine the convertible won't be even more delightful.


Honda Ridgeline - Once again, Honda has a better idea.


Hyundai Sonata - Bigger, better looking and built in Alabama, the new Sonata sedan may determine Hyundai's fate for years to come.


Lexus RX 400h - A real test of how great the hunger for hybrid-electric vehicles is. Almost certain to cost more than $40,000, the V6-powered RX 400h SUV promises V8-like performance, but how many people will choose it over other SUVs that actually have V8s?


Mercedes-Benz R-class - The second vehicle from Mercedes' Alabama plant could set the benchmark for luxury and performance among six-seat crossover wagons.


Pontiac G6 convertible - A four-seat convertible with a retractable hardtop for less than $30,000 should be a winner.


Volkswagen Jetta - The inline five-cylinder engine promises more power, but Americans have never warmed up to an I-5 before. Are the Jetta's sharp new looks and legendary handling and solidity enough to overcome that?



Happy birthday, Carroll Shelby
It's not always easy for a no-nonsense Texan to coexist with corporate types, but racing legend Carroll Shelby has made a career and a fortune out of doing it with Ford executives.


"You have to cut through the bull with these guys, but you can't do it without them," Shelby said seated a few feet from the rapturous Shelby GR-1 Concept sports car on the Ford stand on his 82nd birthday last week.


The GR-1 is Shelby's latest collaboration with Ford, but he still remembers the lessons he learned during the first, when then-Ford President Lee Iacocca asked him to do a high-performance version of the Mustang for 1965.


"There was me and about 12 guys in suits in a room, and they were all arguing about what we should call it," he said. "I coulda told 'em a name never sold a car, but didn't care.


"I finally pointed out the window at a building and asked how far away it was," Shelby said.


Nobody knew, so Shelby sent one of the promising young executives to find out. He returned and reported that it was 349 paces to the building.


"That's it," Shelby declared. "We'll call it the GT 350."


Contact MARK PHELAN at 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com