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One of America's premiere new vehicle venues, the Chicago Auto Show always seems to have a theme, from last year's performance focused models, to trucks the year before that. Watch for this year's theme to develop as word of debuts like the 2013 GMC Acadia begin to leak out.
Japan's aftermarket auto parts and racing expo, the Tokyo Auto Salon features displays by all major domestic automakers including Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru. Tuners from NISMO to TRD and Mugen display their latest products and point to the future of the Japanese tuner industry. The 2012 show promises to be a big one, thanks to the debut of the Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ.
For some of the more minor auto shows, a Top 10 list of the most important cars often covers most of the new debuts, but not so at the North American International Auto Show. Held each January in Detroit it's the obvious launch site for major products by the Big Three domestic automakers and over the years has also become the venue for important new models by the rest of the auto industry.
Domestics made their mark at this year's Detroit show, starting with one very different concept car revealed by Chevrolet. Called the Tru 140S it may look like some outrageously fast and expensive exotic machine, but it's neither. Based on the same front-drive platform as the Chevy Cruze, it is powered by the same 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes just 138 hp in that car. Designed, along with the Code 130R concept, as part of an initiative to attract youth buyers back to the brand, Chevy seems serious about the concept, even announcing that if it made production, the target price would be around the $20,000 mark.
It's the first auto show of every year and it's always a big one. The Detroit Auto Show, officially the North American International Auto Show, takes place from January 14-22, preceded by several private days, including the press preview on January 9th and 10th. Notable debuts at this year's event include the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ in US-spec trim, the Cadillac ATS, a new Dodge compact car and even a hybrid version of the Jetta.
Chevy doesn't call it a hybrid, and based on the fuel economy, we'd agree
If the all-new Chevy Malibu were to be described in just one word, it would be “quiet.” At the vehicle’s launch event in Austin, TX, company representatives explained exactly why. First they added plenty of sound deadening materials, including a laminated front windscreen and front side windows, then they worked at absorbing solutions. The result is “the quietest Chevy ever” engineers on hand informed us, and out on the road it shows.
Exterior road noise is all but eliminated and perhaps the best example we came across was when we found ourselves next to a diesel pickup truck, which was pulling a load, heading up a steep hill. After riding along in near-silence it was surprising to actually detect an outside noise. Lowering the window for a second revealed an almost unholy racket. Closing it again shut out the outside world almost completely.
In almost all other ways the new Malibu has been improved, though we’d be hard pressed to call it segment-leading.
FEELS SUBSTANTIAL, FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE
Matching the premium-level quietness of the cabin is a comfortable ride and one that feels substantial on the road. Contributing to this is a notably wider body and track, gaining two inches in thickness. It feels less like a mid-size and more like a full size machine, an advantage on the highway but a drawback around town. A contributing factor is the raised hood (a requirement of global pedestrian safety requirements), which gives the perception that there’s a great deal of car out in front.
By comparison, a Camry and Sonata (both hybrids we should add) that Chevy brought out as a competitive test set felt well-sized and nimble in a brief test drive around downtown. The likely culprit here is that the Malibu has a slightly shorter wheelbase, while being roughly two inches longer overall.
On windier roads the Malibu hardly excites and ‘confident’ isn’t a word we’d use
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