irishcar.com

7 January 2002: General Motors has resurrected the 1950s icon Chevrolet Bel Air as the baseline idea for a new two-door convertible concept vehicle being shown at this week's Detroit Auto Show. It's the latest in a crop of 'nostalgia' vehicles developed by US designers to highlight the 'glory days' of American automobile design.

"We have so much heritage at brands like Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet and Cadillac, that why should we try to be like the foreigners?" asks GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. "It's such a gold mine of heritage that can be reached into and updated."

The new rear-wheel-drive Bel Air concept prototype has a front bench seat for three people, a wrap-around windshield, side-vent windows and the familiar swoop up over the rear wheels.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co unveiled an update of the Ford GT40 supercar which won the prestigious Le Mans endurance race twice in the 1960s. With a 5.4 liter V-8 engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, the GT40 joins Ford's 'Living Legends' lineup of concept and production vehicles inspired by brands from the past.

And, aiming at the embedded memory of the yellow Tonka toy trucks which millions of American children played with as they grew up, the blue oval company also showed the Mighty F-350 TONKA pickup concept, which lowers half a foot when the doors are opened to allow easier entry or exit. It may one day go on sale.

In the SUV segment, very important in the US, DaimlerChrysler AG unveiled the Chrysler Pacifica, a combination station wagon-sport utility vehicle that the company believes could be as successful as its PT Cruiser, and which will go on sale next year.

Lexus introduced the Lexus GX 470 (below), a full-size luxury SUV set to go on sale in the US only next January. It slots between the RX 300 (available in Ireland) and the larger LX 470 (not available).