2015 Detroit Auto Show
Our coverage from this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit
By Shahzad Sheikh
We’ll be posting up all the news and stories from the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, which actually kicks off on 12 January. Keep checking back for updates on the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
2015 Ram 1500 Rebel
Beefed up off-road edition of our favourite truck, the Ram (oh, go on then, Dodge Ram) is being shown as a 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel. It has air suspension for increased ride height, 33-inch tyres, factory lift, skid plates, tow hooks and a 305bhp 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, as well as a new grille and specialised trim.
New Lincoln MKX
It’s the first major redesign since the Ford Edge-based Lincoln MKX was introduced in 2006. Packed full of gadgets and tech, it’ll be offered with two engine options – 330bhp 2.7-litre twin turbo Ecoboost V6 and a 3.7-litre which, confusingly, will deliver less power. So hopefully when it comes here, we’ll get the 2.7.
Acura (Honda) NSX
And here it is – the one you’ve all been waiting for but are never going to get in the region – thanks a bunch Honda Middle East – it’s the final production version of the all-new Acura (Honda) NSX, debuting at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, 26 years after the original Ayrton Senna-tuned NSX.
No Senna to help it on its way anymore, but this mid-engined supercar does get a twin turbo V6 with a 9-speed dual clutch auto combined with a three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system – no official figures for power, but it’s said to offer well over 550bhp. It’s AWD, or rather in Honda’s terminology, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. Two of the motors are up front and enable torque vectoring, whilst the third is at the back and adds power we guess.
They’ve got some weird terms of this car dubbing it a ‘human-centred supercar’ with a ‘human support cockpit’ – basically it’s driver-focussed. Anyway, it’s all-aluminium – a first for a supercar with a space-frame design with a carbon fibre floor. It’ll be made in Ohio by 100 specialists with deliveries in late 2015 and likely to be priced over $150,000.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck concept
Should you really care, Hyundai revealed this Santa Cruz Crossover Truck concept because I guess they felt they needed to have a cool-looking truck because everyone else has got one. Then they stuck a 2.0-litre turbo diesel in it. Move on.
Porsche 911 Targa GTS & Cayenne Turbo S
It’s my very favourite 911, in fact it’s my very favourite Porsche full-stop. Now there’s an even better version, according to Porsche – the GTS. It mark’s the Targa’s 50th anniversary, and boosts power to 430bhp and adds Sport Chrono package, PASM chassis, 20-inch centre lock wheels and a sports exhaust.
There’s also a new Cayenne Turbo S with a 4.8-litre V8 producing 570bhp and 590lb ft of torque – giving it a new 0-100kph time of 3.8 seconds (for an SUV!). Gosh – that’s obscene!
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
We knew it was coming, in fact I saw these at the Maserati factory when I visited there last year. We love the Alfa Romeo 4C and removing the roof will just make it even better. Interesting that they chose to debut it in America.
It feature a removable carbon fibre top, or a stowable cloth roof (similar to the way Lotus does it) plus there are new sculpted air intakes on the sides.
Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang
So Ford is really pulling out all the stops for the 2015 Detroit Auto Show! First the awesome Raptor, then the stunning Ford GT, and now this might Mustang.
It’s described as the most track-focussed Mustang ever built, featuring over 500bhp and 400lb ft of torque from its V8, no rear seat and goes on sale later this year in limited numbers.
It’s 59kg lighter than the Shelby GT350 Track Pack, features a new bonnet vent, vented wheel wells, vented fenders, new front splitter, a 6-speed manual and a limited-slip Torsen diff, plus carbon fibre 19-inch wheels. No A/C, no stereo, no rear seats, no carpets – and probably no see here in our region, sadly.
2017 Ford GT Supercar
Well and truly the star of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, this is not just a concept for what a contemporary interpretation of the fabled Ford GT40 MIGHT be like, this is actually it. A supercar slated for production at the end of 2016.
It is said to be one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles arriving by 2020 and will join the Focus RS, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R in the lineup.
The new Ford GT will be powered by the most powerful Ford Ecoboost 3.5 V6 engine ever producing more than 600bhp. The car will be made mostly from carbon fibre and aluminium and will feature active aero.
2016 Nissan Titan XD debuts
Nissan President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, himself revealed the 2016 Nissan Titan XD at the Detroit show. It’s said to be all-new with a 5.0-litre V8 Turbo Diesel. It’s the first of a new generation of Titan models. We probably won’t officially get these here, but there have been a few grey imports.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor revealed
One of the region’s very favourite trucks gets revealed in an all-new guise for 2017. It’s familiar, but somehow even more tougher-looking and rather futuristic. This of course will be aluminium-bodied to have over 225kg in weight.
It will come with a 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine said to provide more power and torque than the current trucks V8, and feature an all-new TEN-speed transmission. It’ll have redesigned, larger FOX Racing Shox with more suspension travel. Expect it at the end of 2016.
Buick Avenir Concept
We don’t get Buick in our region and we’re not likely to. But this thing looks too magnificent not to include in this coverage of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. And it shares more than a passing resemblance to another grand brand beginning with the letter B but hailing from the other side of the Atlantic.
Avenir though is actually a French word for ‘future’. This would be a flagship saloon said to be inspired by historic Buick concepts. It is 5195mm long and 1931mm wide and features a ‘Cystalline’ exterior colour. It’s said to be powered by a new V6 driving all the wheels through a 9-speed auto. I love it – wish they’d bring Buick back!
VW Cross Coupe GTE
Volkswagen will produce a seven-seat SUV its US plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the end of next year. It’s previewed in this Cross Coupe GTE which uses a V6 plug-in hybrid with 276bhp and two electric motors, plus AWD. The front styling of the production car is said to be the same as this concept. You have a long wait, but we almost certainly will get this new SUV in our region.
Jaguar F-Pace teased
Not shown, but confirmed for production at Detroit, is the Jaguar sports crossover SUV, previewed in the C-X17 concept which was also shown here at the Dubai Motor Show. The five-seat car will be called the ‘F-Pace’ and will go on sale in 2016. Jaguar is also celebrating its 80th year in 2015.
Infiniti Q60 Concept (update)
A few more details for the Infiniti Q60 Concept – which we’ve already posted below – have emerged regarding the engine. It will have an all-new 3.0-litre V6 with direct injection and twin-turbocharging. The engine was actually previewed in the Q80 Inspiration at the Paris Motor Show and will be part of a new family of power units. Infiniti has also confirmed that the smaller Q30 Concept shown at Frankfurt last year, will go into production this year.
Mopar will showcase a trio of customised cars
The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk gets the off-road Mopar treatment with Commando Green paint and ‘X’ graphics and satin black wheels. There’s also an ‘Urban Mopar-equipped’ Renegade packed with styling accessories from the catalogue.
In addition to these two, expect to see a Dodge Challenger T/A Concept which debuted in Las Vegas last November.
Bentley Mulsanne Speed
Basking in the glory of its most successful year ever in terms of sales, Bentley continues to release variants of its existing model range. So no SUV yet, but here is the new flagship – the Bentley Mulsanne Speed. It has 25bhp more with 537bhp, gets to 100kph four-tenths quicker with a time of 4.9 seconds, and will reach 305kph, up 9kph. We want.
2016 Toyota Tacoma
All-new midsize pickup truck from Toyota looks really good. No details, but none needed for us as it’s not coming here. Although actually we’d love to ask Toyota: why not?
Volvo S60 Cross Country
We’re used to Volvo making Cross Country version of its wagon/estate cars, but for the new S60 saloon? The S60 Cross Country is based on the recently introduced V60 Cross Country and rides 65mm higher with the same AWD (though it will also be available with FWD only in some markets – which makes no sense to me at all!).
Lexus GS F
We can’t get enough of the new Lexus RC F, so this one’s pre-approved by us. The GS ‘luxury family saloon’ gets the same drivetrain, including the torque vectoring differential and 471bhp. This will be one hard-charging Japanese super-saloon.
Infiniti Q60 Concept
Infiniti will reveal the Q60 Concept – this is a coupe based on the Q50 and essentially will be the basis for the replacement for the much-loved G37 (already rebranded as Q60). It’s certainly a dramatic-looking 2+2 two-door and we can’t wait to find out more about it.
2015 BMW 6 Series range
BMW will hold the world premiere of the full range of the 6 Series, revised for 2015. That includes the Convertible, Coupe, Gran Coupe and the M versions of each. There are minor styling tweaks inside and out, better connectivity, a sports exhaust for all models, improved aerodynamics, better cooling and new wheels.
Acura (Honda) NSX production model
We’ve seen loads of pictures of the concept car of course which has been at just about every major show all over the world, but Detroit will see the actual production car revealed. Hopefully we’ll get to know more about the specifications of this Japanese supercar too. Don’t get too excited, from what we know, there are NO plans to bring it to the Middle East as yet. Sob, sob.
