What to Expect From Detroit This Fall

Chrysler, Ford and GM still have several all-new models coming to showrooms--some of which may impress.

Chalk this one up to the Cash for Clunkers program: General Motors announced that it will add 60,000 units to its 2009 North American production cycle, hiring 1,350 union workers at facilities in the U.S. and Canada.

The shifts in Lordstown, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada, are coming just in the nick of time. According to GM, strong sales of the just-launched Cadillac SRX and CTS Sport Wagon have created the need to up production levels. GM execs say the changes will result in a third-quarter production increase of 35 percent over the second quarter.

"We are extremely lean with inventories on our launch products," Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. sales, said in a statement. "With today's announcement of further additions, the fourth quarter will now be at least 20% higher than the third quarter, which is a very positive trend."

The factories in Ohio and Canada will produce the popular Chevy Cobalt and the all-new 2010 GMC Terrain crossover. These are examples of what we can expect to see more of from automakers this fall: four-cylinder engines in all types of cars, turbo-boosted crossover utility vehicles and formerly upgrade-only amenities like the Terrain's rear-vision camera, Bluetooth capability, remote vehicle start and programmable power rear lift gate.

Ford's Flagship Focus

While most automakers launch new products on a semi-rolling basis throughout the year, Detroit is offering some all-new vehicles this fall that are a departure from tradition--and may be tough to pass up. The biggest group comes from Ford which is offering trucks (the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 models), eco-boosted wagons (the Ford Flex EcoBoost) and powerful sedans (the Lincoln MKS EcoBoost).

Technology is playing a major role in how Ford expects to separate itself from the pack, says company spokesman Mark Schirmer. Especially important are Ford's seamless entertainment system (known as SYNC) and the new MyKey feature, standard in multiple 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. MyKey allows parents to limit a vehicle's top speed and radio volume for teenage drivers who borrow the car.

Ford's biggest launch this fall will offer both systems. It's the $25,995 Ford Taurus and premium-level $37,995 Taurus SHO, both redone versions of the best-selling sedan that temporarily ended production in 2006. The car has been restyled to reflect the taut lines of a muscular human torso and, in general, exude a sexier edge than its family-style predecessor.

The 106-year-old company is down 28% in sales this year so far, compared to GM's 38% decline and Chrysler's 42% decline. Not wanting to squander that (however relative) advantage over its Detroit rivals, Ford put much stake into beefing up the car.

"This is our flagship product," says chief designer Earl Lucas. "It has a lot of responsibility to show off what the blue oval can offer."

The 365 hp engine in the SHO variant, not to mention the massaging front seats, push-button start, voice-activated navigation and optional shift-paddles, are all improvements to the original Taurus--a sign that Ford is following through on its commitment to improve the interior quality of its vehicles and get up-to-date with its technology options (two aspects of the company that had been derided in recent years).

Cadillac's Crossovers

Cadillac is also ramping up new-product production during tough times. Dave Caldwell, a spokesman for the GM brand, says the company expects much from the $33,330 Cadillac SRX Crossover, which went on sale this month, and the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, set to launch in September.

The CTS Wagon in particular is interesting, Caldwell says, because of its dual nature: it's based on the same body of the highly popular CTS sedan but offers double the carrying capacity by virtue of its station wagon body. Station wagons in America have historically been a niche market, but the right kind of wagon, one that's practical and performance-based, could help change that tradition, Caldwell says.

Cadillac's SRX is another vehicle that blurs the lines between automotive segments, but does it for the sake of control. Not truly a wagon or an SUV, the crossover offers a 3.0-litre V6 (265 horsepower) or 2.8-litre turbocharged (300 hp) V6 engine and a unique all-wheel-drive system called electronic limited-slip differential, which distributes torque from the front to rear axle, and side-to-side across the rear axle, making the car steady in rain, snow and ice.

Both vehicles offer a power-operated panoramic sunroof, a pop-up navigation screen, a power liftgate, a leather-swathed interior and Bluetooth connectivity.

All told, however, it'll be a long, slow, uphill battle for Detroit to recover its footing in the eyes of consumers--namely, to produce vehicles with the comparable fuel efficiency, luxury interiors and brand cache of foreign competitors.

Claes Fornell, a business professor at the University of Michigan, says the reduced consumer base this year may actually help domestic brands, since they'll be able to more fully concentrate their efforts on producing quality for a smaller audience.

The bottom line: This fall is a small step in the right direction for U.S. automakers, even if there's still a long way to go.

What to Expect From Detroit

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

On Sale: September 2009

MSRP: Pricing not yet available

What to Expect: The CTS Sport Wagon is essentially the same size as the CTS sedan, but it has nearly double the carrying capacity, with 25 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 53.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

It has a power lift gate, a roof spoiler, 19-inch wheels, a pop-up navigation screen and a panoramic rear sunroof.

2010 Cadillac SRX Crossover

On Sale: Late August 2009

MSRP: $33,330

What to Expect: The wagon offers either a 3.0-litre V6 (265 horsepower) or 2.8-litre turbocharged (300 hp) V6 engine, Bluetooth capability, power rear door and a pop-up navigation system. It offers a new AWD system with an electronic limited-slip differential, which distributes torque from the front to rear axle, and side-to-side across the rear axle, making the car practical for rain, snow and ice.

Dodge Ram 2500/3500

On Sale: Early Fall 2009

MSRP: Pricing not yet available

What to Expect: The Rams have premium front seating with heat and ventilation, heated rear seats, heated steering wheels, navigation systems, SIRIUS backseat TV with three channels of programming and an available 10-speaker surround-sound system.

The Ram 3500 has a towing capacity of 18,500 lbs.

GMC Terrain

On Sale: September 2009

MSRP: $24,250

What to Expect: The five-passenger Terrain comes with a direct injection, four-cylinder engine that gets a highway fuel economy of 32 mpg. A direct injected V6 engine with 264 horsepower is optional.

A rear-vision camera comes standard; a programmable power rear lift gate, Bluetooth capability, remote vehicle start, seven-inch touch navigation screen and rear entertainment system are available.

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

On Sale: Fall 2009

MSRP: $38,020

What to Expect: The Raptor has internal bypass shocks and a lower, wider design that is key to desert racing and off-road performance. It has roll stability control, hill descent control and an auxiliary control board to make customization easier.

It comes with a V8 engine that gets 310 horsepower and 365 ft.-lbs. of torque.

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