At putyourhandsup4detroit, we like to award hard work. Ever year the editors of putyourhandsup4detroit reward the innovation and dedication on display at Cobo Hall. This year, after much discussion and heated debate, putyourhandsup4detroit is ready to announce its awards for the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Let us note that the choices were many and sometimes a consensus seemed impossible to reach. Nevertheless we are now proud to announce the much coveted and exclusive Cobozzies: awards for the best from Cobo Hall. The winners are:
Most Fun: BMW 1 Series M Coupe.
What's more fun than a BMW? A BMW M. The much lauded M line finally makes it to the smallest BMW. Say hello to the BMW M1: BMW's silky-smooth 3.0 liter inline-six cylinder, 335 hp engine + 6 speed manual + 0-60 mph in under 4.8 = time to trade-in whatever you are currently driving. Comparison to the legendary and original E30 M3 is not lost on us.
Best Production/near-production Vehicle: Hyundai Velostar.
Hyundai is on fire and don't expect it to stop anytime soon. We would be very worried if we were Honda, Toyota, hell every manufacturer. The Velostar is another home run. Lets break it down: essentially, the Velostar is a sporty coupe/hatch based on Hyundai's compact platform. Platform mates include the superb Elantra, Kia Forte, Forte Koupe, and Soul. The Velostar will use Hyundai's new Gamma 1.6 liter 138 horsepower engine good for 30/40 mpg city/highway. Yeah that's better than Honda's CR-Z hybrid. Yes we said hybrid. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard and Hyundai's new dual-clutch automated manual is optional. 0-60 will probably fall in the 8 second range.
When the 2012 Velostar goes on sale it will start around $17,500, undercutting both the Honda CR-Z and Scion tC. We personally prefer the funky not-quite-hatch, not-quite-coupe styling. We think Hyundai has another winner on its hands.
Best Concept: Ford Vertrek.
As we previously discussed, the Ford Vertrek is the 2012 Escape in concept clothing. Puthourhandsup4detroit was torn as to whether this classifies as a real concept. We feel it is definitely concepty enough and hope that the actually production vehicle will closely resemble the concept. Whatever you want to say, this may be the most handsome crossover.
Best Vehicle: Porsche 918 RSR Hybrid.
What's the point of a gas-guzzling hybrid (no oxymoron)? Well how does 767 horsepower sound? The 918 RSR Hybrid is a continuation of the superb 918 RSR Spyder shown at last year's Geneva Auto Show. Porsche has continued its science project and today we have bona-fide production-ready racecar. Not that Porsche is crazy enough to actually make this hybrid. The 918 has a 563 horsepower 3.4 V8 coupled with 204 horsepower from two 75 kiloWatt motors attached to the front wheels. An interesting note is the development of a flywheel accumulator, which is like a battery, but stores energy as kinetic energy rather than chemical energy in a typical battery. The advantage is that the flywheel can be charged and discharged (putting power to the wheels) much more quickly.
The production 918 will most likely be a tamer non-hybrid version. We can't wait.
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