Detroit Auto Show 2009: more caution and a little less hype

Yesterday was the first day of the annual three-week-long North American International Auto Show, known more colloquially as the Detroit Auto Show. The first week is usually dedicated to a preview by the press and industry insiders, punctuated by a fundraiser, with the last two weeks open to the public. The schedule explains why there’s so much media chatter about American cars in the news this week; only the media has access to the show for the first three days and they milk the preview for all it is worth.

Some of the auto show preview seems almost scripted, so highly predictable:

• Concept cars oozing sleek chic that are highly speculative and will probably never make it to the street? Check.
• Obscenely overpowered vehicles that pretend to be cars and not earth-bound rockets? Check.
• Boring release of next year’s tried-and-true model? Check.
• General Motors’ Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Bob Lutz fighting unnaturally the urge to be his characteristically blunt self with the press? Check.

But there appear to be some new features, including the new air of fear and resignation hanging over the show and a more restrained feel to the festivities. There’s a lot more emphasis on powertrains of the future, specifically those powered by batteries, and GM making the most news on that topic. The concept cars may be glitzy on the outside, but the insides are being billed for their use of alternative fuels or fuel efficiency, lowering the overall hype level with pragmatism and realism.

We’ll be bringing you more coverage from the show beginning Tuesday — and we’ll be looking more deeply into the battery-powered cars that the American auto industry hopes will save them.