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Look at Glass Technology at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show
by Dale Malcolm,
Dow Automotive/Essex ARG
Right after I return
from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit everyone asks
what I liked the best. However, it is difficult to single out any one
production or concept vehicle. Personally, I always wonder what trend
or new idea will dominate the show each year.
One trend whose time has come is the glass roof.
Every car show over the last dozen or so years has had at least one vehicle
with a glass roof. Last year, the Ultra-Luxury Maybach 62 went from hood
to trunk with four pieces of glass.
That feature has spread to several other production vehicles and numerous
concept vehicles this year, including the Mercedes-Benz 2005 E320 CDi
Sedan and Scion's tC Sport coupe from the new division of Toyota (see
pictures below). These are just two glass-roofed production vehicles
that are priced well under $20,000.
This hot new trend of glass roofs will offer new challenges for even the
seasoned auto glass installer. If you slip with the cutout tool now, it
might mean you just cracked the roof glass doing a simple windshield replacement.
Pontiac introduced a new sport sedan called the G6 and it has a four-panel
sunroof that is state-of-the-art. There were quite a few concept vehicles
with extensive use of glass in the roofs, such as: the Kia KVC III, Mercedes-Benz
Vision Grand Sports Tourer, Honda Sports Utility Truck and the Lincoln
Mark X (see pictures below).
One of the most important trends has been the development of hybrid vehicles
by almost all of the major vehicle manufacturers.
Lexus introduced a hybrid version of its popular RX330 Sport Utility,
which will get approximately 30 miles per gallon and can go from 0 to
60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds.
Honda also announced that it will introduce a hybrid version of its popular
Accord model.
In addition to these production vehicles, many of the concept vehicles
shown have been designed around hybrid technology. Jeep showed off its
Treo Concept vehicle, which seats three and is powered by fuel cell technology
(see picture below).
Several manufacturers are working on bio-diesel engines that basically
run on cooking oil; this is a renewable resource and reduces dependence
on foreign oil. However, the exhaust has been reported to smell like French
fries cooking.
Quite a few vehicles were sporting some styling cues that have not been
seen for some time. Perhaps it was the lighting or the exaggerated look
of the concept vehicles, but air scoops and chrome are back in a big way.
From the 2005 40th-anniversary Mustang to the dazzling Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Concept Super car, side scoops are cool again. Replacing many of the all-painted,
britework-free vehicles of the 1980s and 1990s are vehicles such as the
Lincoln Mark X coupe and the Toyota FTX Concept truck with brilliant chrome
grilles and trim (see pictures below).
The Japanese carmakers also introduced several new trucks this year, such
as the Honda SUT, Mitsubishi Sport Truck Concept, Toyota FTX Concept,
redesigned 2005 Nissan Frontier and new 2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab (see
pictures below).
The American carmakers, however, focused on rebuilding their car lines.
Chrysler is introducing a new rear-wheel drive sedan, the 300c (see
picture below). Dodge is following suit with the crisp, new Magnum
sedan. Ford is replacing the popular Taurus/Sable line with the new Ford
Five-Hundred Sedan.
General Motors premiered a pair of two-seaters with the Saturn Curve Concept
(see picture below) and the under-$20,000 Pontiac Solstice convertible.
Refusing to be outdone in the two-seater market, though, Dodge showed
off its 3-cylinder Sling Shot Concept convertible.
Some other two-seaters unveiled at the show were the Lincoln Mark X, Chrysler
Crossfire convertible, Volkswagen Concept T off-road sports coupe, Subaru
B9SC roadster, Ford Shelby Cobra Concept and the new sixth-generation
2005 Chevrolet Corvette (see pictures below). Chevrolet also showed
off its third Nomad Concept car since 1954. The second was shown at the
1999 Detroit Auto Show, followed in 2003 with the current-version Nomad
Concept, based on the 1954 version, which was based on the Corvette originally
(see picture below).
From concept cars to super cars, high-ground clearance vehicles to Hybrid
power plants, it was a fascinating exposition and look into the not-too-distant
future. The only thing I couldn't figure out was what was up with that
Buick golf cart …
Dale Malcolm is technical services supervisor with Dow Automotive/Essex
ARG in Dayton, Ohio. See the March/April 2004 issue of AGRR
for Malcolm's full review.
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| 2004 Nomad
Concept |
2005 C6 Corvette |
2005 Chrysler
300C Sedan |
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| 2005 Ford
Mustang |
2005 Pontiac
G6 (sunroof) |
2005 Scion
TC (inside sunroof) |
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| 2006 Pontiac
Solstice |
Buick Golf
Cart |
Chrysler ME
Four-Twelve |
 |
 |
 |
| Dodge Magnum |
Dodge Slingshot
Concept |
Ford Shelby
Cobra Concept |
 |
 |
 |
Honda SUT
Concept
Roof Glass |
Honda SUT
Concept |
Jeep Treo
Concept |
 |
 |
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| KVC III Concept
(glass roof) |
Lincoln Mark
X Concept |
Mercedes-Benz
E320
(glass roof) |
 |
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 |
Mitsubishi
Sport
Truck Concept |
Saturn Curve
Concept |
Subaru B9
SC Concept |
 |
 |
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| Toyota FTX
Concept |
Volkswagen
Concept T |
Mercedes-Benz
Vision Tourer |
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