Detroit Auto Show is keeping pace with latest car concepts
Once again Detroit left the motoring press and public drooling, as the world’s largest car companies unveiled their strategies in sleek, shiny new vehicles.
And the word from America is that the market is back, with as one expert put it “carmakers are delivering on people’s dreams instead of just meeting their needs.”
Coming off their biggest sales year since 2006, Ford and Honda were keen to show off their engineering prowess and demonstrate that supercars aren’t just the domain of German and Italian designers.
And gone are the days when carmakers vied to appear the most environmentally conscious. The Ford GT and the NSX are all about excess and exuberance, even as they showcase efficient technologies such as a light-weight carbon fibre on the Ford and a hybrid-electric propulsion system on the Acura - a 500-plus horsepower supercar.
Ford also took the covers off its 500hp Mustang Shelby GT350.
The GT has carbon-fibre wheels and body panels, and Ford said it is researching how to bring the costly-yet-light material into everyday cars.
The teardrop shape of the GT explores new ways to improve fuel economy by reducing wind resistance, said Raj Nair, Ford’s product development chief.
Acura mated a V-6, twin-turbocharged engine with three electric motors that drive the wheels so the NSX accelerates instantly, without the lag associated with turbo power. To keep the car light, Acura built the NSX on an aluminum frame. The NSX also uses carbon-fiber parts.
The car’s low centre of gravity and slipstream design helps it move nimbly and efficiently.
Audi kicked off one of the most aggressive two-year model expansions in the luxury car industry, targeting buyers of big cars with a revamped version of the Q7.
Still to come later this year is Audi’s first electric sports car for aficionados of technology and speed. The electric R8 will feature new battery technology, which could surpass the 265-mile range of Tesla’s Model S.
Tesla unveiled plans to boost production of electric cars to "at least a few million a year" by 2025 from fewer than 40,000 last year, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said.
Musk, who last year said Tesla will begin phasing in "autopilot" features on its Model S sedan, predicted the company will be first to market with a fully self-driving car, but likely not until after 2020.
Musk also said the company's long-delayed Model X sport utility vehicle will be launched this summer, while the lower-priced, higher-volume Model 3 is on track for a 2017 introduction.
Among the biggest news was Jaguar’s F-PACE, an efficient five-seat crossover expected to go on sale in 2016. Jaguar has yet to release specific information about the engine and power of its brand-new model, but we expect it to be on par with the quality and performance of Jag’s athletic F-Type coupe.
Jaguar’s sister brand Land Rover showcased several new diesel engines in almost its entire line starting with the 2016 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Td6.
Maserati showed off a concept Ermenegildo Zenga special-edition of its immensely popular Ghibli. Another beloved Italian brand, Alfa Romeo, unveiled the 4C Spider.
Big news among the German brands includes the M6 Convertible, the 6-Series Grand Coupe, and 6-Series coupe from BMW.
Mercedes unveiled the first two models from the new, more-affordable Mercedes-AMG Sport line, the C450 AMG and the GLE450 sport crossover. We may also see that all-new 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 V12 sedan, which the brand has developed off the of the discontinued Maybach line.
