A sneak peek at 12 must-see vehicles ready to hit the road
As auto shows go, none is more important than the annual gathering in Detroit.
The city famous as home to the American auto industry is where the world looks first for trends in auto design and innovation — and next week’s gathering will be no exception.
While the industry is awash in SUVs, reflecting a shift to the boxy vehicles by drivers, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is shaping up as fairly balanced between crossovers, cars and pickups.
The show is set against a backdrop of a continuing boom in auto sales. The tally dropped slightly in 2017 compared with 2016 but still surpassed the 17 million mark, according to Autodata.
While many automakers have announced what models they will unveil, most have yet to reveal them. In some cases, they’ve released tantalizing “teaser” photos.
So, from it all, here are some of the major introductions expected.
Cars get more daring
Infiniti Q Inspiration. Nissan’s luxury brand says it is ditching traditional design with this one. It will be yet another four-door sedan with the arched roof of a coupe, but Infiniti says it will put a premium on interior space with a long, stretched-out cabin.
BMW i8 convertible. BMW’s i8 is a sports car for luxury buyers who also want to be viewed as environmentally conscious. Now the plug-in hybrid is going to have a droptop version.
Volkswagen Jetta. Volkswagen sold more than 115,000 Jettas last year,
Autodata says, and VW is sure to want to get this compact right. VW’s clean Euro styling could again hold the upper hand for Jetta, which in the past has excelled with a youthful following.
Toyota Avalon. Cars, in general, haven’t been as hot as SUVs, and the full-size segment has been especially tepid, so Toyota can afford to take some risks with the new Avalon. For the moment, Toyota is only showing a headlight design, but it’s enough to tantalize.
Honda Insight prototype. The original Insight was one of the first hybrids to go on sale in the U.S. almost two decades ago at a time when car buyers, and Detroit, didn’t care. Now, a new Insight will “offer premium style and high fuel efficiency in a sophisticated and spacious five-passenger sedan,” Honda says.
SUVs that aim to stand out
BMW X2. Another attempt to make SUVs look sexy. The X2 has a “distinctive exterior design that combines the fast-moving body language and lowslung proportions of a coupe.” It will be powered by a peppy, turbocharged 4cylinder engine that can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds.
Acura RDX. Honda’s luxury brand is promising the next version of the RDX will be “low, wide and sleek.” It will incorporate the latest exterior and cabin design for its third generation.
Toyota FT-4X. So far, this is the most eye-catching SUV concept yet. It’s aimed at Millennials, with rugged looks akin to the discontinued FJ Cruiser.
Jeep Cherokee. The Cherokee, with its edgy looks, was a surprise hit for Fiat Chrysler. Jeep is softening the appearance of the front end with wider headlights that could broaden its appeal.
Lexus LF-1. On the heels of BMW’s new, giant X7 SUV, Lexus moving up a size grade as well. It will have curtain side airbags that cover all three rows of seats on both sides. It will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.
Pickups that will turn heads
Chevrolet Silverado. Chevrolet has already shown a couple of photos of the truck it will reveal in Detroit but has left a lot of questions unanswered. Key among them is what role will materials other than steel play in the new truck? Ford reduced the weight of the rival F-150 with an aluminum body. If Chevy doesn’t use aluminum, will it count entirely on steel, or could carbon fiber or another material play a role?
Ram 1500. Fiat Chrysler has the third-best selling pickup in the country, and it always has been formidable. For its redo, Ram will need to try to keep all the brawn while improving fuel economy, power and tech.