There have been several special events and holidays in March, ranging from Spring Break to St. Patrick’s Day to Easter this year, but another not-to-be-missed event for North Texans that has really grown in popularity was the DFW Auto Show. Auto enthusiasts (and isn’t that most of us?) turned out in droves to take in the 2013 show, March 13-17 at the Dallas Convention Center, adjacent to the beautiful new Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas.
“The DFW Auto Show has become a can’t-miss family tradition, introducing young and old auto enthusiasts alike to the latest in sleek new styles, advancements in energy efficiency, the latest innovations in safety and cutting edge technology,” said Don Herring, Jr., chairman of the 2013 DFW Auto Show. “Everyone from Acura to Volvo will be showcasing their best and brightest of 2013 and beyond in more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space. And this is where ‘look and compare’ come into play.”
With more than 700 cars, trucks, and SUVs from over 30 manufacturers, the show is chock-full of eye-catching exhibits and interesting vendors. Everyone from TV personalities like the stars of “Lizard Lick Towing” reality series to Girl Scouts selling cookies were there for families during Spring Break. Completing the DFW Auto Show experience were classic car displays; shopping in the Allied Exhibit area; a “Spring Breakaway Family Expo” that targeted families and their lifestyle interests; and games with the media.
An impressive lineup of 2013 models included: the all-new Buick Encore, MINI Paceman, Subaru XV Crosstrek, and the SRT(R) Viper, a variety of 2014 models such as the Acura RLX Tech Navi; Aston Martin Vanquish; Chevrolet Impala and Silverado; the Ford Fiesta and the Texas debut of Ford’s Transit Connect Wagon and the Ford Atlas Concept pickup truck; GMC Acadia and Sierra; Jaguar F-Type; Jeep Grand Cherokee; Kia Cadenza and Sorento; Mazda Mazda6, CX5 and CX9; Mitsubishi Outlander; Ram ProMaster; and Subaru Forester. Other vehicles included an Acura MDX Concept and Hot Wheels Chevy Camaro specialty vehicle.
Visitors to the High End area could ogle Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Maserati, Rolls Royce, and other $100,000+ vehicles. The McLaren 12C and 12C Spider, a Maserati Gran Turismo coupe and convertible, Bentley’s Continental Series, and a Rolls Royce Ghost were all on display for those who could afford to dream big.
My favorite car to look at with longing or at least nostalgia was the sparkling new, bright red, 2014 VW Beatle Convertible, and a Black luxury limited edition John Varvatos Chrysler 300C designer car was a close second. However, that Beatle reminded me of all the good times I had in my own VW convertible back in the 1970s. I still miss that car!
Potential buyers had a chance to do more than look—they could test drive their favorite vehicle from the Ford, GM, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Ram, and Subaru lineups.
One of the most impressive and important cars on display at the auto show was a far more practical driving solution from Nissan. The 2013 LEAF electric car has been sold to over 50,000 buyers, to gain the title of best-selling electric vehicle of all time. LEAF owners around the world (the car is sold in 17 countries in Europe as well as North America) have covered more than 260 million km or greater than the distance from the earth to the sun. All with zero tailpipe emissions, and with an incredible customer satisfaction rate of 95 percent. Most repeated comment, “It drives just like a real car” with great acceleration.
First produced in 2011, refinements for 2013 have made the all-electric LEAF, a five-seat Hatchback model, more spacious and comfortable and even more affordable than before, with the new base trim model costing $6,000 less than previous models. Enhancements include available leather-appointed seating, Bose(R) Audio, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and new exterior colors including Metallic Slate and Glacier White. My favorite is still one of the previous colors, Blue Ocean.
In its third year, the innovative LEAF is now assembled in the U.S. at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn. assembly plant, with battery production taking place right next door in the country’s largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant. The electric motor is powered by Nissan’s laminated lithium-ion battery with an eight year warranty. To recharge from empty to 100 percent takes eight hours with a normal charger, but only 30 minutes to reach 80 percent with a quick charger. Texas auto writers were informed that their state is now considered one of the leading states in the U.S. for EV or electric charging stations. Estimated MPG is 106 in town or 92 on the highway, with a 107 hp electric motor and one speed automatic transmission.
Press materials add the following: “Changes to the 2013 Nissan LEAF start with improved energy efficiency due to refined aerodynamics, a wider range of regenerative braking, improved energy management and a newly available onboard charger that reduces 220V charging time nearly in half to approximately four hours for full charge. The front-wheel drive LEAF uses a dedicated EV platform with batteries housed in the floor for optimum vehicle packaging and weight distribution.
The body design includes a rigid-mounted battery frame, which helps provide greater body rigidity compared to a conventional compact car. LEAF rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, with a 175.0-inch overall length, 69.7-inch width and 61.0-inch height. Nissan’s LEAF has room for five adults and a good-sized cargo area. Placing the batteries in the floor of the vehicle provides optimum weight distribution to help enhance handling and allows for five-passenger seating by not intruding into the cabin space. LEAF’s 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is comprised of 48 compact modules of four cells each (192 cells total), which allows a high degree of packaging flexibility.”
The battery’s design also ensures that if one module needs replacing, it will be like replacing a fuse and not replacing the entire battery. The 2013 Nissan LEAF definitely gets my vote as the most practical (and still beautiful) vehicle at the DFW Auto Show this year. The LEAF is priced from $28,000 to $32,000 but there are lots of tax incentives from both Federal and state governments that make the pricing more attractive.
