2010 Orange County Auto Show: Hits and Misses from European and Asian Automakers

Although the Orange County Auto Show perennially lives in the shadow of the much larger and more prestigious LA Auto show in late November, it is a terrific opportunity to check out the upcoming 2011 models in the metal before everyone else in the country. After all, Orange County is the epicenter of car culture as evidenced by the number of automakers that have their headquarters here.

Since I am sure you have no interest in hearing about a car that boasts 3 all new exterior colors for model year 2011 (or 2012), I am only going to talk about vehicles that are all new or extensively redesigned. But the question is, are these new models future sales hits or will they crash and burn like so many ill advised automotive concepts before them?

Also realize that this is a critique of interior and exterior design and does not intend to impugn the way these automobiles drive. I realize as a car reviewer that it takes a bit of time behind the wheel of a vehicle to really get a sense of how good it is. But if it's ugly, cramped or just plain stupid looking I will be sure to give you my two cents. Feel free to fire back yours and tell me I am an idiot.

Kia

For me, the 2011 Kia Optima really stole the show for me. I absolutely love both the exterior and interior design and it amazes me that this is just a mainstream family sedan. It looks vaguely like the new Saab 9-5 but is infinitely better looking in the metal (and cheaper too). I quite honestly don't see how anyone could buy a 2011 Sonata after seeing the new 2011 Optima.

Also on hand was the 2011 Sportage which deftly mixes masculine exterior design cues in a segment (compact SUVs) that favors organic and flowing lines. The interior may not be swathed in soft touch plastic but at prices in the low $20,000 range for a well equipped model can you complain?

Honda/Acura

The big news here is the launch of the 2011 Honda Odyssey. While some claim the exterior design is controversial, I like it because it is unique. What no one can deny, however, is that the 2011 Odyssey has the best interior of any minivan ever built.

Not only is it stylish and well built but it also boasts many clever first in class features. For instance, there are child safety latches (and enough width) for five full size car seats, there is a trash bag ring for rear passengers (so when your kids are done with their juice boxes they can dispose of them there) and the 3^rd row "magic seat" now qualifies as the easiest to fold third row in the history of mankind.

There are also countless other family friendly safety features that Chris Martin from Honda personally demonstrated for me but I quite frankly can't remember them all. The Odyssey has a very, very impressive interior and that will guarantee this minivan's sales supremacy.

Over at Acura, the main focus was on the very stylish Acura TSX Wagon being released later this year. Although I am in the minority, I love the look of wagons and the TSX actually has the Audi A4 Avant beaten for style. And it should cost a lot less. (Note: if you were wondering, the cargo hold of the TSX wagon is just as large as most similarly sized crossovers. The only difference being you might actually have fun driving the TSX.)

Toyota/Lexus

At Toyota they had a plug-in Prius on display which is essentially a Prius with an extension cord attached to it. So that's not very exciting. At Lexus, however, they had the all new Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback on display. Yes, it may share its electric/gas powertrain with the Prius but the similarities end there.

I have never had a visceral response to a Lexus product ever. I don't think they are intended to excite and titillate. But I am afraid that this CT200h got my pulse racing a bit. The exterior styling is bold and aggressive and the interior is inventive. Dare I say it but the Lexus CT200h is seriously youthful! Young people might buy it! Sorry, I got a bit too excited there.

Hyundai

Hyundai is on a serious roll lately and this has moved them forward with their goal of becoming a truly multifaceted global powerhouse. And then came the $50,000 plus Equus. Now, the Genesis sedan may have been accused of being derivative but it is undeniably a handsome luxury sedan.

The Equus, however, looks like a Genesis sedan that got severely depressed and only ate cupcakes for six months. It looks flabby, the grille is overwrought and why no Hyundai logos yet? Either launch a luxury brand or don't. Quit using obscure symbols on these models as that kind of attitude will never build the value of Hyundai as a luxury brand. Plus, who wants to bring a $50,000 luxury car to a dealer that is used to Accent owners?

Also, the interior of the Equus is just not up to par when compared to its very accomplished competition. The leather literally feels like rubber, the wood trim is no better than you can get in vehicles costing much less, it feels cramped inside for six footers and the steering wheel design is simply grotesque. (Note: the steering wheel is covered in a material that looks like walrus skin, it is ridiculously oversize and there is an odd logo in the center that looks vaguely Satanic.)

Mazda

The Mazda2 is adorable, the interior is minimalistic design at its best and I would pick one over a Fiesta any day. No, I don't care that it's less powerful and has fewer options. It's also cheaper.

Nissan/Infiniti

I have a lot to say about the new Nissan Leaf so I will leave that for a later time. First off, let's talk about the 2011 Juke. You can call it hideous but I say it is brilliantly daring and that once you see it for yourself you will agree that there is an oddly cohesive symmetry to it all. Or not.

There was much ado over at Infiniti thanks to the gloriously sensual new M-sedan. I love both the interior and exterior styling of this hugely capable sport sedan and would buy one in a heartbeat over the boring as stale toast 2011 BMW 5-series.

Things got ugly, however, when I gazed upon the grazing water buffalo known as the 2011 QX56 SUV. It is obscenely long and wide but has these flowing stylistic creases down the side that are obvious attempts to mask its oppressive corpulence. The front grille is ridiculously small in comparison and no one will be able to park this anywhere unless they live on a ranch in Texas.

The inside, however, is a huge improvement over the last generation QX56. Squishy soft leather covers everything, the dashboard looks and feels luxurious, controls are easy to figure out and it all feels solidly built. There is also enough passenger room for a sect of unnaturally tall and obese polygamists.

Subaru

The all new "wide track" Impreza WRX and Impreza STI models were on hand, ample hips and all. Excuse me Subaru, JLo called and she said she never authorized the use of her likeness on any of your vehicle designs. Yikes!

VW

As a VW fanatic who has tested a lot of their 2010 models, I noticed some minor changes with the Golf, GTI and Sportwagen like redesigned audio face plates and navigation system controls. Somebody stop the presses! Rumor has it that at the LA Auto Show VW will unveil restyled versions of the Tiguan and EOS so the models on hand at the OC show were from 2010.

The real focus at the VW stand, however, was the launch of the 2011 Jetta sedan. On hand were basic models with the 2.0 liter 115 horsepower 4-cylinder that dates back to the early 1990's and some very nicely equipped models with the 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine.

First off, I agree that the Jetta does not blow your mind from a style perspective but it is angular, Germanic and very traditionally Jetta. Jettas are supposed to be kind of boxy and this shape gives the 2011 model enough trunk space to please a Mafia hit man and enough rear legroom for Kareem Abdul Jamar. Or Shaq. Someone very tall.

I also do recall when the 5^th generation Jetta was launched everyone screamed that it looked like a Corolla and that the chrome lip was hideous. But people got used to it. The only problem was VW priced it too high and they lost market share.

As the base model is meant to compete with Corolla buyers it is definitely a winner. It is more stylish and has a much nicer interior than a Corolla. Pretty much any Corolla ever made. Even in the more expensive trims there is less soft touch plastic than in the 2010 Golf but if that's what you are after you should just deal with having to own a hatchback.

Audi

Not only did Audi have a red R8 Spyder that everyone was drooling over but they also had the new 2011 A8 which is much more attractive and finely detailed up close than it appears in photos. Then there is the interior which is such a delight to all of your senses that it borders on the orgasmic.

The A8 that was at the show had an interior that was a perfect shade of cocoa brown with sumptuous leather covering the seats and dashboard to terrific effect. Alcantara trim accented the doors and this model was even equipped with a "smoker's package" which affords back seat passengers two ashtrays built into the rear doors. You don't get much more European that.

BMW

Oh, wait. Did I fall asleep? Yeah, they had the new 2011 5-series there. God, I can't believe I miss Chris Bangle's design ingenuity. I honestly can't tell the difference between a 5 or 7-series anymore. They even have the same dash for crying out loud!

Saab

I really, really wanted to like the 2011 Saab 9-5 but when I realized it looked like a bland version of the 2011 Kia Optima I lost hope that this brand is going to stick around much longer. The interior is charmless and filled with cheap plastic which is unacceptable in a $50,000 luxury car.

Volvo

This was my big surprise of the day. I had seen the new 2011 Volvo S60 in photos and hadn't thought much of it since, well, it is a Volvo. But this is one brilliantly proportioned, elegant and nicely detailed luxury sedan. I am now obsessed with getting one to test. I will keep you posted on that little quest.

I was also impressed with the material and leather quality in the Volvo. I could see, thanks to the many models on hand, that Volvo is really branching out into Audi territory with its experimentation with interior colors and contrasts. Very well done and hopefully a deserved success. A great antidote to the legions of 3-series and C-class sedans in South Orange County.

Jaguar

The 2011 Jaguar XJ-a simply stunning piece of avant-garde automotive artwork that challenges the luxury car norm and screams from the rooftops that Jaguar is leaving its Old English design roots in the past. The front end is a bit jarring but the side and rear views are just breathtaking. An A+ that is true automotive art because it won't appeal to everyone.

(Note: Mercedes must have been on their lunch break because as of press time they had not arrived to set up their stand. The show was set to open four hours later.)