The Charlotte International Auto Show is not the largest or the flashiest car show in the world.  Most of the auto makers don’t show off the wacky concept cars and space age technologies that comprise the centerpieces of the big shows in Detroit, Los Angeles and Paris.  You won’t even find many exotic cars except for a single Ferrari, one Aston Martin, and a couple of Maseratis tucked back in the far corner surrounded by velvet ropes and large “DO NOT TOUCH” signs.  In fact, the highlight of the Charlotte Auto Show is usually Santa Claus and Chubby Checker.  However, they do have nearly every mainstream production car currently on the market that the average person can afford. 

The Car Chick spent 3 days crawling through every car, truck and minivan to identify the good, the bad and the ugly for 2009.  (Click the links for pictures from the manufacturers!)

THE GOOD

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:  Although labeled a 2010 model, the redesigned Fusion Hybrid will start showing up on dealer lots in spring of 2009.  Ford boasts that the new Fusion has better fuel economy than the Toyota Camry Hybrid (by 5 mpg in the city) and can go up to 47 mph in all-electric mode, thanks to a more powerful lithium-ion batter.  (Most hybrids kick into gas mode at 35 mph.)   Cutting edge hybrid technology combined with the latest and greatest techno-gadgets - I think Ford has a winner here!  (Did I mention the eco-friendly seats made from 100% recycled materials?)

2009 Volkswagen CCVR6 Sport:  Strange name, beautiful car.  It’s hard to believe that this sleek, sexy sport sedan is actually a Passat that has undergone an extreme makeover.  With its radically sloped roofline and luxurious, two-toned leather interior, this car could easily be confused with the popular Mercedes CLS – until you look at the price tag (think 50% off)!

2009 Hyundai Genesis:   This amazing new car came in a close second for my Pick of the Show this year.  Featuring the roominess of a BMW 7-series or a Mercedes S-Class ($100,00 cars) and the styling and comfort of a Lexus GS or Infiniti M ($50,000 cars), the Hyundai Genesis is a champagne car for a beer budget ($30,000 – 40,000).  In fact, the only thing “Hyundai” about this rear-wheel drive luxury sedan is the “H” badge on the grill and trunk.  (It doesn’t actually say “Hyundai” anywhere on the car.)  This is the luxury car for the post-financial crisis, when function, safety, and the bottom line are more important than status and image.  Hyundai will also offset the carbon footprint of every 2009 Genesis by planting 150,000 trees in Brazil.  Frugal and green! 

2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible:  Ever since I bought my G35 sport coupe in 2005, I have been saying that Infiniti needed to turn it into a drop top (like it’s cousin, the Nissan 350Z).  They finally listened to me!  Although they didn’t actually have one at the Charlotte show, the Infiniti rep assured me that the G37 convertible will hit the showrooms this spring.  The 2 + 2 seater convertible will feature a 3-piece retractable hard top, and will offer active rear steering, all wheel drive and a 7-speed automatic transmission.  The bad news?  This much fun will run you 60 grand.

THE BAD

2009 Nissan Xterra and Pathfinder: These cars aren’t new (or even redesigned for 2009), but I had never noticed just how small the rear doors are.  To make things worse, the door opening is partially blocked by the rear wheel well, making it difficult for even the skinniest person to get in and out without bruising a hip.   Only Chinese acrobats have access to the 3rd row.

2009 Kia Borrego:  Kia calls the newest vehicle in their lineup “a new kind of luxury SUV”.  Kia has certainly put more effort into the Borrego in the areas of performance, styling and even fuel ecomomy, I’ll give them that, but no one is going to confusing this vehicle with a Lexus any time soon.  While decent looking on the surface, a closer look at the Borrego reveals cheap-feeling interior materials that undoubtedly keep the price tag down.  The seats are hard and uncomfortable on the bum, and the rear storage space (with 3rd row seat option) is non-existent.  Oh, and I did I mention that it comes in “metallic pumpkin”.  Where’s a fairy godmother when you need one?

Chrysler, Dodge and Chevy:  Although they brought some hot muscle cars and monster pickup trucks to the show that impressed the locals, it is painfully obvious why these American auto makers are in trouble.  Particularly disappointing were the Dodge Journey and the Chevy Traverse SUVs.  (Chrysler brought a minimal inventory and looked like they already had one foot out the door.)  The Journey has a boxy, plastic interior that seems to be a significant step down from the Chrysler Pacifica it replaced last year.  The Chevy Traverse does have some nice features like blind spot mirrors and good 2nd and 3rd row legroom, but the interior materials still felt cheap and certainly not worth the $42,000 price tag.  If the bailout goes through, maybe these guys can spend some of it to make a vehicle that I would actually like to sit in.

2009 BMW 1-Series:  The 1-Series is supposed to be an entry level vehicle for BMW, priced and sized between the Mini Cooper and the popular 3-Series.  So, you can imagine my shock when I saw a $50,000 price tag on the 1-Series at the auto show.  What happened to “entry level”?  Granted, this particular vehicle was tricked out with every performance and luxury option in BMW’s arsenal, but I was appalled nonetheless.  Perhaps they should have slapped an “M” badge on it instead.  I think I’ll stick with my Mini.

THE UGLY

2009 Saab 9-5 Aero:  I have always found Saabs fun to drive, but both the styling is more bland than iceberg lettuce.  In fact, GM hasn’t given the 9-5 (or any other Saab) much more than a mild face lift since 1998!  The spartan interior has no distinctive design accents or trims, a set of boring controls that are angled towards the driver, and a single cup holder that hangs lifelessly from the dash.  The only “distinctive” feature is the ignition – it’s down by the gearshift!  I realize that Saabs are designed by aircraft engineers, but I had hoped that they would take their styling cues from first class instead of coach.

2009 Saturn Aura XR:  Don’t get me wrong – the Saturn Aura is a reasonably attractive and well-appointed sedan that I normally like quite well.  However, the particular vehicle they selected for the auto show had an orangish-brown, two tone leather interior that looked like a beat up, “leatherhead” football helmet, circa 1920.  If George Clooney had been sitting in the car, I might have been able to stomach it.

Ford Airstream Concept Car:  Ford’s latest idea for the future of crossover vehicles looks more like a cross between the space shuttle and a 1930s motor home.  But, then again, concept cars are supposed to be bizarre, and this one is actually so ugly it’s cute.  The aluminum exterior features asymmetrical, orange trimmed windows, and the interior sports pod-shaped, swiveling captains chairs in bold red fabric.  On a more serous note, the Airstream prototype is powered by a new plug-in hybrid fuel cell technology that is half the weight and cost of today’s systems.  It operates under electric power at all times and delivers 41 mpg.  While the funky styling may not make it to production, Ford promises that the technology will.  And soon.

[Disclaimer:  This review of the 2008 Charlotte International Auto Show and the vehicles displayed there is merely the opinion of the Car Chick and not reflective of Women’s Automotive Solutions as a whole.  If I have bashed your favorite car or heralded the accolades of one you despise, please do not take offense.  Again, these statements are just my independent thoughts and ramblings offered in the spirit of keeping my audience both informed and entertained.]

These vehicles also tickled my fancy at the 2008 Charlotte Auto Show and merit an “honorable mention”.   (Click the links to see pictures of these vehicles.)

Nissan GT-R:  Known in Japan for decades as the Skyline, the much-anticipated GT-R is finally for sale in the US market.  With a mind blowing zero-60 time of 3.3 seconds, full time AWD and a price tag in the $70s, the GT-R is a supercar in every way except the bottom line.  And, after all, we came here to drool.

2010 Ford Mustang:  A lightly refreshed design and a much improved interior that no longer screams “Rent me!”  The Chevy Camaro may have more power, but falls short on the quality.

2010 Mercedes GLK Class:  Built in Germany on the new C-Class platform, this entry level SUV looks sports an angular dash, brushed nickel with chrome accents and a square exhaust.  It’s luxury with a modern twist and an attractive price. 

2009 Buick Enclave:  Tiger Woods must have had input on the design of this SUV.  It features very easy 3rd row access, lots of 2nd and 3rd row legroom and good rear storage space.  Combine that with comfy seats, large windows and skylights, and it’s the perfect vehicle for you and your golf buddies.

2009 Subaru Forester:  Subaru redesigned it’s quaint little eco-wagon into a seriously competitive crossover, winning the 2009 Motor Trend SUV of the Year award in the process.  The Forester is now the size of a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV, but it only gained 66 pounds, keeping it fuel efficient and nimble.

My Kudos Award for the 2008 Charlotte Auto Show goes to Ford Motor Company!  Yes, you read that correctly – Ford.  Not only was Ford the only manufacturer to bring their A-game to the auto show this year, including some cool concept cars, they also earned the Kudos award for environmental responsibility.

Ford knows that “going green” means a lot more than spitting out hybrid vehicles.  Although the company said that hybrid and electric vehicles will be fast-tracked as a part of their bailout plan, Ford is looking at the bigger picture.   In the 2008 Mustang, Ford introduced the industry’s first soy-based seat foam which replaced the previously petroleum-based foam.  This not only helps reduce our oil dependence, but it reduces 605,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually (based on Mustang production alone).  This eco-friendly technology is now being rolled out to almost all of the Ford and Lincoln line. 

To literally top the seat foam, Ford’s seat fabrics are make from 100% post-industrial waste materials such as recycled plastics and un-dyed polyester fibers.   This use of recycled materials that would otherwise be sent straight to the landfill saves an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents and more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. 

In their luxury Lincoln division, the seats are wrapped in beautiful leather made with vegetable dyes and an environmentally responsible chromium-free process that makes the material recyclable.  The rich wood grain trim in the vehicles is even made from recycled furniture! 

Between Ford’s improvements in overall quality and reliability and their dedication to truly green technologies and practices, these guys may be worth bailing out after all.

My “Pick of the Show” for the 2008 Charlotte International Auto Show is the 2009 Mazda CX-9.  Believe me, I was as surprised as you are.  The CX-9 hasn’t changed much since its introduction in 2007, so don’t ask me how I missed it last year.  Mazdas, in general, have always been solid cars (with a few exceptions), but they have never held my attention for more than a few seconds.   Yet, this year, I found myself enthralled with their sleek, sporty designs and impressive interior styling. 

The CX-9 is a large, 7-passenger crossover SUV that looks like it wants to be a luxury sports car when it grows up, and it is truly fun to drive.  As nimble as a vehicle this size can be, the CX-9 is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 with 273 hp, 270 lb-ft  of torque, and a respectable zero to 60 time of 7.4 seconds. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and all trim levels are available in either front- or all-wheel drive.   A stiff suspension system makes for tight handling, which is considered sporty by some, but can be construed as uncomfortable by others.  Estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway, which is average for the class.

All 2009 CX-9s come standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control with a rollover sensor, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. (A blind-spot warning system is standard on the Grand Touring model.) The CX-9 aced the front and side crash tests administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, scoring five out of five stars.

The CX-9 also boasts excellent build quality inside and out.  Available with beautiful two-tone leather, red and blue instrument lighting, brushed nickel-look accents and elegant piano black or wood trim, the CX-9’s interior boasts a sporty style that easily competes with many luxury SUVs.  The cockpit hugs the driver, lending to the sports-car feel, and most of the controls are ergonomically friendly and easy to use. My only complaint is that the CX-9 doesn’t have many useful cubby holes for storage.  At least there is a decent amount of storage space (about 17 square feet) behind the third row.

Speaking of the third-row, it’s one of the roomiest you’ll find, and is quite suitable for two, normal-sized adults.  This third row is easily assessable for those two adults, thanks to large rear-door openings and fold-and-slide second row seats.  (The long rear doors can be hard to open in tight parking spaces, but I wouldn’t want to park this beauty anywhere near door-dingers and shopping carts anyway!) 

The 2009 Mazda CX-9 is available in three trim levels. The entry-level Sport starts around $30,000 and comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The more upscale Touring model adds heated mirrors, two-tone leather seating and heated, powered front seats for around $32,000. The $34,000 Grand Touring boasts 20-inch wheels, xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless ignition/entry, memory driver seats, interior wood accents, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, funky blue cabin illumination, and a blind spot warning system.   Available options (on most trim levels) include a surround-sound Bose audio system with a six-CD changer, a sunroof, a power rear liftgate, a navigation system with a rearview camera, a stand-alone rearview camera (with rearview mirror display), satellite radio, remote engine start, video game docking station and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. 

For all you moms (and dads) who need to haul around kids but still want to have fun and look good doing it (without breaking the bank) – this is the one to buy!  Zoom Zoom, indeed.