Head-banging Cadillac debut signalled soft end

DETROIT – Day 2 at the North American International Auto Show featured a soft takeoff on the Lincoln stage, where a beautiful woman crooned about Lincoln performance as a warmup for Executive Chairman Bill Ford to take the stage.

More women and young people are buying Lincolns, Ford said, as the "new from all angles" Lincoln MKX was introduced. The smallish and handsome SUV doesn't have traditional knobs and switches, according to Ford's Executive Vice President Mark Fields, with the Lincoln MyTouch tech package helping people to stay connected with their "digital lives."

The Lincoln shebang was classy, but maybe too classy for some. Tw reporters sitting behind me asked: "Where's the fireworks and the strippers." It's still a man's world, I guess.

Contrasting with Lincoln was the head-banging show at Cadillac. Flames (on video), screeches and booming bass announced the arrival of the new Cadillac CTS V Coupe.

Zero-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, Brembo brakes, Reccaro seats, Cadillac was in launch control mode to promote the luxury-performance CTS V Coupe to a younger crowd. It will go into production this summer, according to Bryan Nesbit, Cadillac's General Manager.

From the big bang show at Cadillac to subdued Subaru to the end of the major press conferences at the auto show, there were no big announcements from the all-wheel drive pioneers. Sales are up 86 per cent in China, that's good, and they are working on a hybrid. Details to follow.

As I made my way for the exit, I watched as a small crowd inspect the puny Fiat 500 in the Chrysler pen, while across the aisle, the only person breathing on a new Ferrari was the model hired to show her curves alongside the super sports car.

That's the state of the union in Detroit.

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