Here's some of what I saw last Sunday, February 28.
My pilgrimage to the auto show this time was a little different than in years past because I was accompanied by my oldest son, who is shopping for some new (or good used) wheels. For the most part, we skipped over the high-dollar and high performance stuff and concentrated on compacts and subcompacts that are within his price range.
First major surprise: there was a full-dress Scion display, with a product rep and brochures and everything.
Didn't think they'd go to the trouble, since they're phasing the brand out, but there it was.
The iM hatchback in "Electric Storm Blue" made a good first impression on us, even though I gather the buff books don't much care for it.
Surprise number two was the new 2016 Prius fastback.
It doesn't look like a Prius, does it? It doesn't even look like a Camry. It's sleek and sporty, completely lacking in smugness, clearly aimed at a completely different buyer.
The new design's relatively low tail means that there's less room on the hatch for the traditional Prius owner's custom of virtue-signalling via politically strident bumper stickers. While it still has the trademark #2 back window on the rear fascia below the end of the roofline, it's just there to look Prius-y and has no practical value. You can only see out of it from the driver's position if the rear seats are folded down and the cargo bay is empty. Not to worry, though--even the base trim level has a backup camera.
Inside, the dash is rather nicely laid out, there's an inductive smartphone charger on the forward end of the center console,...
...and there's a true ergonomic breakthrough on the steering wheel: the cruise control is a short stalk attached to the steering wheel at the 4 o'clock position, where you can easily work it with your right hand while keeping a grip on the wheel.
Is that clever or what?
I've complained before that "whole marques [are] available only in the standard-issue Great Recession-era palette of black, white, silver, and gray." Case in point: you can have your 2016 Mitsubishi in any color you want as long as it's monochrome.
Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz appears, from what was on display, to have discontinued every color combination except white paint with a black interior.
In other places, there was considerably less monotony. Ford, in particular, likes to exhibit cars in bright colors.
An interesting little detail on the Focus and Fiesta: a little sub-mirror that gives you a view of what's usually a blind spot.
VW had a special-edition "Dune Bug" on display that managed to make beige look interesting.
I didn't much like the styling of the last generation Honda Civic, particularly the front end. The 2016 is a major improvement.
There really haven't been a lot of prototypes and show cars the last few years, not like there used to be, but they seem to be making a comeback. Buick brought their swoopy Avista.
Acura was showing the NSX "reboot" prototype.
Nissan had this...uh,...thing.
Also competing in the "comic relief" category: a Camry funny car.
While I'm not looking to replace the GTI anytime soon, I did indulge in a bit of lusting over this Mini in proper British Racing Green.
A customizer that does "mobility" conversions was displaying a wheelchair-capable Kia Soul...
..and Fiat 500.
The Crawford museum brought some examples of early autos made in Cleveland, including this 1914 Peerless 60-Six touring car,...
...a 1920 Cleveland roadster from the Cleveland Automobile Company,...
...and an old friend, the 1920 Jordan Playboy.
The classic car gallery was otherwise given over completely to a display of cars due to be auctioned off this coming Saturday. It was home to the usual shoebox Chevys and C3 'Vettes and G-body muscle cars, and these two monuments to conspicuous consumption.
The consignments included this 1930 Marmon Big 8 sedan--the most accurately named car in the building.
The judges considered awarding the Car Lust Trophy to this Chevy wagon...
...and this Bicentennial Buick,...
...but neither of them could hold a candle to this Dodge A-100 boogie van conversion. 
--Cookie the Dog's Owner
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