Bad Auto Show Morning Turns Green
11/28/2007
Hybrid, Diesels and Fuel Cells, Oh My!
I woke up on the first morning of the Los Angeles auto show with the sniffles. It must be mother’s luck — my first day in a swanky city, away from my kids, and I get ill. I opened the door of my hotel room to grab the paper and found that the universe must be trying to tell me something: Kermit the Frog was on the front page, along with a story announcing his departure as Ford’s “green” spokesman. “What? No more Kermie?” I shouted. The next stop on the negative train involved an exorbitant parking fee at the place where we ate breakfast, a restaurant whose two containers of self-serve full-lead coffee were both empty. Crimeny, can’t a girl catch a break? By the time the Chief Mama and I had arrived at the show, I couldn’t help but wonder whose karma pool I’d peed in.
Luckily, one of our first discoveries at the show was that Kermit hadn’t resigned; the announcement was a publicity stunt in the form of a spoof news story by the Rainforest Action Network. Phew, that makes me feel a lot better. Soon enough, the press conferences began. Let me set the scene: Imagine lots of people (mostly men) standing around (because there aren’t enough seats) watching car execs in stuffy suits (mostly men) read from teleprompters (mostly badly), while standing on rotating platforms. Add in the piece-de-resistance: models in tight clothing pulling sheets off cars. Neat. But I digress.
After seeing a few of these gems (why am I still feeling cranky? Get me some coffee, people), a theme does begin to emerge: Green is green and getting greener.
Hydrogen fuel cells are coming. OK, they’re only coming if you live in the most major of cities on either coast; the rest of us will be waiting. That’s mildly disappointing, because I’m either having déjà vu or I heard that exact same news at this show last year.
Gas/electric hybrids were featured in all shapes and sizes, including four big SUVs from GM and Chrysler. The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid even won the Green Car of the Year award. A Chevy Tahoe Green Car of the Year? Isn’t that an oxymoron? With EPA estimates of 21 mpg in the city and fewer emissions than its gas-only siblings, I say it’s a great start, but I’m not sure I could make the leap to Green Car of the Year. The deck seemed a little stacked in GM’s favor, as four out of the five finalists were GM products.
With clean-burning diesel newly available this year, several manufacturers offered new-to-North America diesel engines. Volkswagen/Audi was most bullish about diesel being the greenest answer for today. Its commitment to its turbo-diesel injection (TDI) system has been successful in Europe and is growing in popularity here in the U.S. With other big European and Japanese brands bringing some diesel products to the North American market — and companies like Chrysler making more diesel options — this concept should grow in popularity over the next few years.
For those not ready to jump into Greenville with both feet, there was also a general trend toward smaller vehicles. Small crossovers dominated the floor, with the Dodge Journey aimed squarely at families (and I do mean square — in a slightly-boring-in-the-looks-department sort of way). The Infiniti EX features some very family-friendly technology, including the parker’s-dream-come-true Around View Monitor, and Volkswagen presented the Tiguan small crossover. Mini showed the Clubman, which is technically bigger than a regular Mini, but is still a small choice. Even so, it may appeal to some families (see our Chief Mama battle the Suburban Dad about this car here.
So, behind door No. 1 we find hybrid, behind No. 2 is diesel and, finally, what’s behind door No. 3 is just plain small. Make your choices, ladies (and gentlemen) — your children’s world will be better off when we commit to one of these options. Then study up on hydrogen fuel cell technology, just in case it ever materializes somewhere outside L.A.
Comments
Hey, we knew it isn't easy being green. But at least the cupcakes make it tolerable, right?
Posted by: Lori Hindman | Nov 28, 2007 11:20:04 AM
Oooh - Sprinkles!!!! I win Mom of the Year for bring those back to the kiddos :)
Posted by: Kristin | Nov 28, 2007 7:03:18 PM
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Well, if Chrysler could just figure out how to run their cars off of the shine from all that chrome they love installing lately, they'd be golden.
Ow, my retinas.
Posted by: HDC | Nov 27, 2007 8:18:54 PM