By Chris Estrada
Over 30 domestic and import car companies descended upon the Bayside Expo Center in Dorchester this week for the 2004 New England International Auto Show.
The center was teeming with auto enthusiasts, families and photo seekers as the dealers showed off their 2005 models and offered sneak peeks into the future of their brands. Vendors also brought along their car-related items to market to potential customers, from insurance to die-cast cars.
Also in the offering was a giant racetrack for radio-control stock car racing, complete with cars decked out in NASCAR colors and paint schemes. Subaru also had something for the family, bringing along a virtual test drive simulator that allowed customers to test out different Subarus on tracks from the Gran Turismo video game series.
But virtual cars are no match for the real deal, and every brand pushed their 2005 cars to the public.
One of Chevrolet’s 2005 models is the Cobalt, which serves as a faster version of the Cavelier, targeting fans of the “tuners” made famous by movies such as “The Fast and the Furious.”
“I’ve heard people here at the show go, ‘Wow, it’s like a mini-Corvette,'” said Samantha of Chevrolet (representatives of all brands declined to give out last names). “I wouldn’t go that far, but it is definitely a pocket rocket.”
Samantha said the Cobalt will have three different models, from the 145 horsepower base model to the 200 horsepower Coupe, which will be stuffed with extra features like XM Satellite Radio and leather interior.
Dodge is also doling out several new models for 2005, the biggest unveiling reserved for the station wagon/hard-top convertible hybrid, the Magnum.
“We wanted to bring out a touring car for the company,” said Karen, a representative for Dodge. “The main point made to us by consumers was that they wanted a car, but they also wanted lots of room like an SUV.”
Karen said the HEMI engine inside the Magnum also gives the car instant credibility and recognition for the “touring wagon.”
Fans crowded around Dodge’s SRT high-performance line, seemingly impressed by the turbo-charged engine of the Neon SRT-4 and even more so by the V10 Viper engine thrown under the hood of the Ram SRT-10 truck.
“We wanted to fight Ford with the SRT-10, since they have the F-150 Lightning,” Karen said. “It’s this truck’s main competition, so we decided that we could throw the Viper engine into the Ram.”
Ford is also launching two new mid-size cars into the public: the all-wheel-drive Five Hundred Sedan and the second Ford mid-size SUV, the Freestyle. Ford representatives also heralded their showcase vehicle — the GT.
Harkening back to Ford’s winning days at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the ’60s, the Ford GT has lineage on its side, and just to make sure, an astonishing 550 horsepower from its 5.4 liter, V8 engine. Also of note for the GT is a complex aerodynamic package that includes front spoilers, front and side splitters, full underbody cladding, rear diffusers and a lip spoiler — all meant to keep the car glued to the road in almost any situation.
The Mustang also gets a re-design for 2005, enabling more passenger and rear-end room, and the retro stylings go right down to the old Mustang logo on the rear end. It has power to match, bringing 300 horses to the table, the first generation of the storied car to break that mark.
As for the pre-eminent imports Honda and Toyota, each was more or less set in their models, save for some exceptions.
Toyota brought along re-designed versions of the Avalon car and Tacoma truck, the latter of which showed off a brand-new 245 horsepower engine. Honda brought a redesigned Odyssey minivan, but the main focus was the debut of the Accord Hybrid. Long considered to be one of the leaders in hybrid car technology, Honda gave the sedan version a 255-horsepower V6 engine, the most fuel-friendly Accord engine ever made.
The event is open to the public through Sunday, Nov. 14. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 1 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children ages six to 12.
