Smaller cars, big ambitions in Detroit
The new Ford Focus was one star of the North American International Auto Show, which left behind gas guzzlers for sensible smaller rides this year. [REUTERS]
More modest cars - the class represented in Korea by the Kia Pride and the Hyundai Avante - will dominate the industry in the coming year, experts at the show said, due in part to the stricter environmental regulations being adopted by governments.
George Pipas, the lead sales analyst at Ford Motor Company, who was at the show, said that within this year small vehicles will account for 23 percent of the United States auto industry, a record high. Pipas predicted that by 2013, that percentage will reach 30 percent.
The U.S. automotive industry has long been notorious for its infatuation with bulky gas guzzlers. In 2004, small cars took up just 14 percent of the market there.
GM’s Chevrolet Aveo, sold in Korea as the Zentra, was born at the GM Daewoo Design Center in Korea. [NEWSIS]
The tiny auto trend was epitomized in Detroit by the new Ford Focus, which will officially go on sale at the end of this year.
The new Focus, a five-door hatchback with a 2.0-liter turbo engine, was developed by Ford’s design center in Europe.
Ford hopes to sell 1 million new Focuses in Europe, half a million in North America and another half a million in Asia by 2012.
General Motors in Detroit exhibited its new Cruze, Aveo and Spark from Chevrolet, sold in Korea as the Lacetti Premiere, Zentra and Matiz Creative, respectively. All three vehicles were developed by the auto giant’s Korean operation, GM Daewoo.
GM is planning to manufacture 300,000 Cruzes every year at its plant in the U.S. starting in the first half of next year.
Although not a small vehicle, GM’s eco-friendly and fuel efficient electric Volt was another highlight of the show. GM CEO Ed Whitacre said the car, which runs off a battery-powered electric motor that can be recharged with an on-board gasoline generator, would cost in the low $30,000 range. That was much lower than the earlier market forecast of $40,000, though it may include a U.S. government subsidy for eco-friendly cars of $7,500.
Chrysler, which was bought by Italy’s Fiat Group last year, will be introducing its own small vehicle, the 500, later this year.
Meanwhile, electric vehicles and new cars in other categories also attracted crowds.
BMW introduced the ActiveE, its own electric vehicle, which it said would have a maximum speed of 145 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) and 170 horsepower.
Audi’s New A8, which made its first international appearance in Detroit, was another to attract the interest of the automotive industry. The length and width of the New A8 have been expanded compared to the earlier A8 design, while the new model’s height has been lowered to enhance its coupe appearance.
By Kim Tae-jin [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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