Despite the blustery weather that has Detroit in its grip, things will be heating up at the Cobo Hall convention center the next few days as the annual North American International Auto Show gets underway.
The first big auto show of the New Year is likely to also be one of the most important, with dozens of new cars, trucks and crossovers making their formal debut. Manufacturers also will be offering a peek at some of the hottest new technologies likely to transform the industry over the coming decade, including the first in a wave of semi-autonomous vehicles.
Unlike some recent car shows that have focused on specific industry trends, like high-line luxury or green machines, the 2016 NAIAS will offer something for everybody, from economy rides like the Kia Forte, to upscale products such as the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the production version of the Lincoln Continental. But one of the most eagerly awaited introductions will bring an all-new take on the classic minivan.
This year’s Detroit Auto Show gets underway with the unveiling of the new Chrysler Pacifica. That’s more than just a new name for the old Town & Country minivan. Chrysler is determined to breathe life back into a once wildly popular segment many have written off for dead.
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica will still offer the sort of features family buyers love – like stowaway rear seating and a new, built-in vacuum cleaner. But the new model will adopt a much more striking design that Chrysler hopes will bring back buyers who’ve migrated to more stylish – but less practical – utility vehicles. There’ll also be a new plug-in model boasting fuel economy of more than 80 mpg.
With fuel prices still running less than half of the record levels seen recently, expect to see an assortment of light trucks and crossovers roll out at Cobo Hall. Honda is getting back into the midsize pickup game with its reborn Ridgeline, while Nissan will signal what’s set to come next with a sporty concept version of its new Titan truck.
GMC will unveil an all-new version of its Acadia SUV – based on a platform that will be shared with a number of other upcoming General Motors utes over the next few years. Kia, meanwhile, will debut the Telluride, a large SUV concept.
Expect Telluride to show up in the near future, as will most of the concepts coming to Detroit. Largely gone are the days when makers developed pure fantasies in chrome. Today’s show cars are designed to set the stage for – and gauge the reaction of the public to – upcoming products.
That includes the Acura Precision Concept which is meant to signal a shift in design direction for Honda’s luxury brand.
(GMC teases Acadia ahead of NAIAS debut. For more, Click Here.)
There’ll be plenty of high-line models debuting in Detroit, including the Lexus LC 500 which is also aimed at reshaping that Japanese brand’s image. Infiniti has much the same goal in mind with the new Q60. And Mercedes, meanwhile, hopes to retain its grip on the mid-luxury segment with the completely redesigned E-Class.
European brands Porsche and BMW will have plenty of high-line offerings, as well, but with an emphasis on performance. That includes the new M2 and the X4 M40i models. Audi, meanwhile, is debuting the A4, but the compact model soon will be followed by sporty S4 and RS4 variants.
After years of struggle, Volvo finally seems to regaining its footing and hopes to become an even more serious luxury player with its new flagship sedan, the S90. Then there’s Lincoln, the once dominant luxury brand following up on its big new of 2015 with the debut of a production version of the big Continental sedan.
Korean carmakers have been growing rapidly in recent years, in part by broadening their product lines. Hyundai, which dipped a toe in the luxury waters with the Genesis sedan and bigger Equus models, is now set to dive in head-first. It’s launching the standalone Genesis luxury brand, Detroit bringing the debut of the flagship G90.
With fuel prices down below $2 a gallon in much of the country, it’s become tough to market green machines. Sales of plug-based models dipped in the U.S. in 2015 after five years of rapid growth. But facing tough new emissions and mileage standards, automakers are pushing ahead, and NAIAS show-goers will see plenty of new, environmental friendly products.
(Click Here for details about the new Chevy Cruze hatchback.)
Ford will reveal the updated 2017 Fusion at Cobo Hall, and it will offer an unprecedented six different powertrain options. That includes not only three versions of its high-mileage EcoBoost engines, but also a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
Chrysler will launch that battery-based version of the Pacifica. And Volkswagen will signal its increasing shift to battery power with the Tiguan GTE Active E Concept.
Another major preview will bring out Chevrolet’s new long-range electric vehicle. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt will deliver an estimated 200 miles per charge yet carry a mainstream price of around $30,000 after federal tax credits.
The launch of the Bolt signals a different sort of shift in the auto industry. While Chevy will reveal technical details in Detroit, it first revealed the production hatchback at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.
CES has traditionally been a showcase for TVs, digital cameras, audio systems and other electronic gadgets, but with almost a dozen different automakers on hand this year, it was a fount of automotive news. No surprise, as today’s cars are becoming more and more technologically sophisticated. The first semi-autonomous systems are now rolling out on products like the Tesla Model S, the Volvo S90 and the new Cadillac CT5. And by 2020, the first fully autonomous vehicles could be on the road.
(To see more about Volvo’s new S90 debuting semi-autonomous technology, Click Here.)
GM CEO Mary Barra has said that, “there’ll be more change in the auto industry in the next five to 10 years than we’ve seen in the last 50.” All in all, there’ll be a lot to talk about at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
