2012 Detroit International Auto Show

  • Thread starter CodeRedR51
  • 146 comments
  • 9,405 views
If that's what GM is giving us I want my tax money back that was given to them. Seriously they need to get their bread and butter sorted out before dumping money into sporty concepts.

Then you're going to hate this: they have another one, the 140S. :D Again, with a 1.4 turbo with 150HP. BTW, Dutch car magazine Autoweek mentions a they're aiming for $20k for both of them.

10427446-standard.jpg


10427447-standard.jpg
 
If that's what GM is giving us I want my tax money back that was given to them. Seriously they need to get their bread and butter sorted out before dumping money into sporty concepts.

Especially not considering their track record with them for the past ten years.
 
I don't like the 130R. It looks odd and... Just odd. However though, the 140S looks pretty good. It has that sort of Aventador-ish side window lines and as mentioned by Joey D, an Eclipse but just better looking. I like it.
 
The 130R is, well, interesting...

The 140S looks good, hopefully it will retain most of the concept looks.
 
So, some hours ago Mercedes unveiled their 2013 Mercedes SL. Hmmmm... It looks muscular and stroooong but the headlights looks a bit weird in my eyes.

Some good things here:
  • The new SL550 weighs about 275 pounds less than the existing model.
  • Mercedes' 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8, the SL550 delivers 429 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and a whopping 516 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm.
  • Seven-speed auto.. Well, as expected from Mercedes.
  • 60 miles per hour hits in just 4.5 seconds – the old car required 5.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 130 mph.

Taken from the Autoblog, for those who are lazy enough to go there. Still, not much mentioned there and I made it shorter, if it's not short enough. Right.
 
  • The new SL550 weighs about 275 pounds less than the existing model.
  • Mercedes' 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8, the SL550 delivers 429 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and a whopping 516 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm.
  • Seven-speed auto.. Well, as expected from Mercedes.
  • 60 miles per hour hits in just 4.5 seconds – the old car required 5.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 130 mph.


  1. 275lbs. lost, but I imagine its still got excess fat that can be shed.
  2. More torque than horsepower, what do you expect from M-B?
  3. :indiff:
  4. More power + more lightness = faster car Only 130 MPH? My 370Z could outrun it!
 
130mph limiter eh?

I'd assume that's down to their choice of tire then... Probably H-rated low rolling resistance jobbies to cheat EPA some; I highly doubt they'd do it for any other reason.

Perhaps an "AMG pack" will be offered with sportier tires and the usual 155mph limiter if that's the case.
 
I quite like that 130R concept. Looks a bit like GM's take on the 1-Series coupe.

Same here, I like it far more than I probably should. The proportions of the greenhouse seem a bit weird, but when coupes are regularly receiving pillbox windows ala the Camaro and Challenger... It is a refreshing change of pace.

To me, it is a direct successor to the Chevrolet II, and I'm even more surprised that they didn't call with a Chevrolet III Concept. The car is the right size, the shape is on-target, offering it only as a 2+2 coupe is interesting as well.

Let's put it this way, between the 130R and 140S, the 130R is far closer to production. I'd guess that its based on the same architecture that sits beneath the Cadillac ATS, will share a wide variety of mechanical components, and in the end will probably only need to get the body shape correct to be production-approved. I'd skip out on the 138 BHP 1.4L, and offer only the 200 BHP 2.5L I4. If they want to get funky with an SS, this is as good a time as ever to (finally) stick the 5.3L under the hood.



As for the 140S, I like it. Frankly, it would be nice to have a compact, front-drive coupe in the stable again. But, I'd rather just have a Cruze Coupe. Or better yet, give us the damn wagon that they offer in Europe. Or better yet, a shooting brake based on the wagon. With a diesel. And a manual transmission. YEAH!


I'd bet on GM building both, and having them on the street within two years. Clearly they don't want to be left out of the niche market that Toyota/Subaru is going to cut with the FR-S/BRZ. If GM is getting in, it is only a matter of time before Ford, Chrysler, and everyone else join up.
 
Why should anyone, shareholders included, believe GM would do any better in the same niche market that they just evacuated out of three years ago despite not having competition at the time?
 
The 130R seems a bit... Pointless to me.

25 large is more than a V6 Mustang or Camaro, and for what?

A smaller, potentially less practical, marginally more fuel efficient, and slower vehicle? If it only weighed 2000lbs it'd be great, but I guarantee it doesn't.
 
The 130R seems a bit... Pointless to me.

Yeah, not only that but I went over the photos several times, and the proportions of that car are just not right at all. Nothing about it looks right.

Update on the NSX, Acura is unveiling 3 cars today and they're saving it for last. :crazy:
 
Apparently Ford has revealed that they are going to use that car next year in the Cup Series. I wonder if anyone will confuse it for an Aston. It looks magnificent.
 
Why should anyone, shareholders included, believe GM would do any better in the same niche market that they just evacuated out of three years ago despite not having competition at the time?

Excuse my ignorance here, but which niche market? Did Chevy/GM have a small sports car on the market a few years back? It's probably something really obvious but it's completely escaped me at the moment.
 
Ok, the more I look at that 130R concept, the more I keep thinking that a Camaro had its way with a 135i.
 
...and suddenly Acura is relevant again.

Rants from others sure to follow for the next 15 years.
 
Excuse my ignorance here, but which niche market? Did Chevy/GM have a small sports car on the market a few years back? It's probably something really obvious but it's completely escaped me at the moment.

Solstice. Hell of a lot closer to being a BreezeFreeze competitor than I imagine either of these could be.
 
Back