What you WON’T see at the 2014 Detroit auto show

Falling immediately after the holiday news lull every year, the Detroit auto show commands an outsize share of media attention. Along with the Super Bowl and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, the presence of all that new technology and shiny sheet metal creates a welcome distraction from mid-winter blahs. But despite a rebound in auto sales, this year’s show, in the newly refurbished Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, was devoid of much drama or excitement. After the fireworks that surrounded the unveiling of the latest version of America’s favorite vehicle, the Ford F-series pickup, at around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, the show was almost as notable for what was missing as what was there.