CONFIDENTIAL

GOSSIP | RUMOURS | TRENDS

TOYOTA CHAIRMAN Akio Toyoda was the undoubted star of the show, delivering a host of classic lines during the Supra press conference. Calling the much-leaked machine “one of the worst-kept secrets in the car industry”, he also said the Supra was “totally lit. According to my son, this means amazing or totally excellent.”

INDIAN FIRM Mahindra had a stand for the first time, showcasing its locally built Roxar off-roader – the current subject of a legal spat with FCA over its Jeepbased styling. The stand also featured the Detroitbuilt Marazzo MPV, which is currently sold in India only, although the firm is keen to emphasise that it’s built to “global standards”.

OFFICIALLY, THE LEXUS LC Convertible unveiled at the Detroit motor show is a concept car, but it looks remarkably close to a production model. The firm’s US boss, David Christ, remained coy about that, saying: “It’s an amazing concept that’s well thought through. It’s well designed, but we’re not announcing any plans just yet.” Expect the production version to go on sale in 2020…

NEVER WORK WITH children, animals or, apparently, concept cars. After much anticipation and a dramatic build-up of music, a technical failure sidelined Infiniti’s QX Inspiration electric car concept on its way onto the stage. The firm’s designer, Karim Habib, gamely talked onlookers around the design features of a car that wasn’t actually there.