Live from Detroit: Mother Proof at the 2008 North American International Auto Show
1/13/08
Mother Proof Reports From the Floor
Mother Proofers Kristin and Sara spent Sunday on the floor at the North American International Auto Show. Here are our first reports; check back Monday and Tuesday for more coverage.
Honda Pilot Gets De-Feminized
Who is that baby’s daddy? The new Honda Pilot revealed at the Detroit auto show today was a disappointment to us. It looks like the product of an illustrious love affair between an old Honda Pilot and a Dodge Nitro — and the result is a man-baby. They’ve de-feminized the car, making it more boxy and angular, and seem to be aiming it more at men. What makes us say this? Must be something to do with the unending mentions of increased towing capacity and offroad capability — as opposed to the old “functional for families” message — this new version debuted with.
With the Pilot’s solid reputation as a safe and functional mom-mobile that’s at home in the carpool lane, will this new marketing message and bold — i.e., ugly — styling aimed at SUV lovers and manly-men fly?
Mercedes GLK Hot Enough for ‘Sex in the City’
Kim Cattrall was in Detroit today hawking her newest accessory, and it isn’t a pair of Manolos. The newest Mercedes to hit the “City” is the GLK, a small crossover that’s sexy enough to be featured in “Sex in the City,” the movie. Poised to compete with the BMW X3, the GLK has two different styles: Not a pump and a slingback, but rather the Townside and the Freeside.
For families who want a Mercedes badge but still need safety and functional cargo space (for all those shoes, of course, albeit more of the Stride Right variety), the GLK might be worth its weight in Jimmy Choos.
Ford Explorer America Gets Our Hopes Up
Think of the day before a date night, when you have high expectations, unmentionable preparations and the thrill of potential romance. The Ford Explorer America likewise raises our hopes with some pretty exciting new features: a retractable worktop with a pair of seats and steps that sit off the cargo area, covered by a rain-channeling roof with additional work-surface lighting; Single Touch Access seats that lift, slide and stack for easy access to all three rows; and seating surfaces made out of kid-proof ballistic nylon made from recycled soda bottles. The pinnacle feature — not unlike the obligatory pre-date bikini wax — is the pillar-less sliding passenger doors that in no way resemble those of a minivan.
The Ford R&D team spied on (and photographed) real people using cars in real-life situations, like changing diapers, loading kids into the third row and working in their cars, and it’s put some solutions for these real-life scenarios into this concept crossover. We hope Ford doesn’t bash our hopes (like the sitter calling in sick on date night) and actually puts some of these great features in the production version.
Ford Verve Hits the Right Nerve
According to Beth Donovan, product marketing manager for small cars at Ford, 11,000 members of the Millennial Generation reach driving age every day. Yikes! Just what will they be driving? Ford hopes it will be its new entry into the small car market, the Verve. Despite the odd naming choice (What is a Verve? The sound this car makes when it accelerates?), the Verve has some interesting features that may appeal to the youth market. Those features include funky paint color options, like magenta, with coordinating “jewelry-like bright work,” plus a steering wheel with controls that closely resemble the workings of a cell phone or iPod.
Ford wants to remind those Millennials that they can have a new car that’s fashion-forward, customizable, technologically advanced and cheap. Basically, if Target started selling cars next to its mod dorm-room accessory department, the Verve would definitely be on the shelf.
Want to hear more? Be sure to check back tomorrow for more reports from Kristin and Sara. In the meantime, satisfy your Auto Show cravings with pictures on Cars.com’s Advice page.
Comments
You can see more info on the ford verve here: http://www.ford-verve.co.uk/
Posted by: Ford Verve | Jan 14, 2008 9:22:15 AM
RE: Re: the Pilot de-feminization.
Unless you haven't noticed, the larger and more 'butch' the SUV, the MORE likely it is to be driven by a woman. Automakers are pleading for men to buy the vehicles to keep them in the segment.
Posted by: anonymous | Jan 15, 2008 4:22:37 PM
why do cars have to be all about women all the time? they don't and when auto makers make a mans car the women get pissed. i as a guy love the new piolt.
Posted by: rj | Jan 16, 2008 1:20:13 PM
We like to write about cars being for women because women purchase 52% of all new vehicles, and influence the purchase of 85%. Oh yeah, and because the website's called Mother Proof.
For the record, we're confused about the Pilot because it was one of the first crossovers, and seemingly geared more towards women and families. I think the new design imitates plenty of SUV's already out there. Instead of an interesting new look, it appears even more generic than before.
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Jan 20, 2008 11:41:23 AM
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Re: the Pilot de-feminization.
Why do models like the Jeep Liberty and now the Honda Pilot need to be retooled to cater to the male crowd? I thought all these companies were searching for the Holy Grail that is successfully winning female purchasers hearts and minds. So why change these vehicles when they've got the cup in hand? Baffling.
Posted by: HDC | Jan 13, 2008 11:04:58 PM