With a 28-year history of showcasing new cars to North Texas, the 2009 Dallas Auto Show added the Southwest Automotive Aftermarket Show this year for an even more exciting experience for the 400,000+ anticipated attendees. The aftermarket show offered the newest products available in car care and accessories, including customization, performance, and racing products.
Vehicles were exhibited at Dallas Convention Center during the four-day show (February 18-22) by 40 manufacturers, ranging from Acura to Volvo. Concept vehicles, plus 2009 and 2010 vehicles were on display, covering over 500,000 square feet in five halls. Show Chairman David Thomas said “February is an ideal month for an auto show;…after the holidays and a month before springtime and the beginning of outdoor activities,” adding “the Dallas Auto Show is the perfect solution to wintertime blues.”
Some of the most popular exhibits were the Smart Cars and the Ford F-150 Raptor simulator, as seen at the Houston Auto Show, where wannabe off-roaders could test their skills and try to improve their scores. Many people got right back in line to try again if they weren’t happy with their first run. As for the Ford Raptor, most folks will jump out of the way when they see that ferocious looking truck coming toward them.
The Ferrari California, the first convertible with a folding hard top from that manufacturer, also drew a lot of covetous glances. On the more affordable but still very exciting front, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS will boast a 6.2L V8 422 HP with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, and the Nissan 270Z offers a more refined, more powerful and better handling vehicle with a 3.7L DOHC V6 engine.
Ford touted the new 2010 Taurus with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 as “the most powerful EcoBoost engine, relying on twin turbochargers and direct injection to deliver 365 hp and 350 ft.-lb. of torque,” while all-wheel drive adds to its superior performance. The SHO package Taurus has a decklid-mounted spoiler, twin chrome exhaust tips, and unique parking lamp bezels with even more luxury touches inside the car. The 2010 Taurus SHO will hit dealerships this summer with a starting price of $37,995.
My personal favorite vehicle was the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, a mid-sized sedan that is beating out all the competition on miles per gallon with a 2.5L Duratec engine offering 175 HP and a 3.0L Duratec with 240 HP. The Fusion Sport has a 3.5L Duratec with 263 HP. A new streamlined exterior reinforces the Fusion’s appeal to fun lovers, but the real draw is fuel economy, according to Jim Farley, Ford’s Group VP for Marketing and Communications, who said “We’re throwing down the gauntlet directly at the segment leaders, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.”
The Fusion Hybrid can hit 47 mph on electricity alone, allowing drivers to travel up to 700 miles on a single tank of gas. It comes equipped with Ford’s new SmartGauge, a dashboard display that coaches drivers into more efficient driving. Each of the Fusion’s engines has been paired with a six-speed transmission, and each has been optimized for a smooth idle and broad torque curve. The result is a potent combination of performance with fuel economy and low emissions.
Another personal favorite (chosen from those vehicles that people can actually afford to buy and drive) was the new Vue 2-Mode Hybrid with a driving range of more than 500 miles that offers a great navigation system and power sunroof as options.
I also loved the elegant new design of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, which definitely is NOT what most of us expected to see from a Buick. Creative collaboration between designers in the United States and China, in partnership with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), as well as chassis and body engineers in Europe, resulted in the first General Motors vehicle to be created on three continents. The design offers a balance of contrasts with both the interior and exterior crafted with harmony in mind. The exterior is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its sweep spear body side styling and waterfall grille.
And our special award for bravery went to the good people at Chrysler/Dodge. At a time when most manufacturers were touting fuel-efficient hybrids or smaller vehicles, Dodge confidently displayed the beautiful new 2010 Dodge Ram heavy duty 2500 truck, available for the first time in a crew-size cab model. Also on display, the 3500, which is the ultimate heavy-duty pickup, truck for commercial purposes. After all, Texas is still truck country!
Jo Ann Holt is a journalist and car writer based in Dallas, Texas, and a member of Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA); contact joannholt@gmail.com .
