Ten Best cars and trucks from the Detroit Auto Showcase
This year’s Detroit Auto Demonstrate is thicker and better than ever, thanks to a wealth of fresh supercars, sports sedans, pickup trucks and EVs. While the shocking Ford GT stole the showcase, it was one of many fresh cars and trucks that made this one of the most interesting, eclectic and, at times, wildest auto shows in latest memory.
While the previous generation sported a massive supercharged V-8, the fresh GT keeps things light with a twin-turbocharged Trio.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 capable of over 600-horsepower.
There could never be any doubt that this carbon fiber, mid-engine desire machine was going to earn the Daily News Autos’ coveted “Best of Detroit.” Finished in a “Liquid Blue” paintjob, you could be forgiven for thinking Ford was simply out to spoil the party over at Acura (with the launch of the fresh NSX sports car). The Ford GT is the real deal, however, with production scheduled to commence sometime in two thousand sixteen – a racing program, including the world famous twenty four Hours of Le Guy’s stamina classic, could commence as early as this summer.
Powered by a turbocharged Three.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, upwards of 600-horsepower is delivered to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ford hasn’t mentioned how much it will cost, or how much this pared-down racer for the road might weigh. The last Ford GT – produced from 2005-2006 – tipped the scales at approximately Trio,300 lbs. and primarily embarked at $139,995. We expect Ford to trim the weight down to near (or below) Trio,000 lbs., while upping the sticker price to somewhere in the region of $200-grand. We’re also requiring the keys as soon as possible for a utter review!
Acura NSX
Acura hasn’t announced a model year, but customer orders begin this summer and production starts in fall, so the NSX is very likely a two thousand sixteen model.
Acura you have our sympathies, at any other auto demonstrate the slimy fresh NSX sports car would have been the belle of the ball. This is still a pretty awesome machine – it’s simply that anything brief of the Millennium Falcon looks tame compared to the wild Ford GT. In terms of the hardware underneath the NSX’s tightly hewn sheet-metal, this Acura is an absolute powerhouse. There are not one, but THREE electrified motors to supplement the power provided by the longitudinally-mounted, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine.
The combined output of the engine and three electrified motors is 550-horsepower. This potent powertrain is then coupled to a performance-tuned version of Acura’s Super Treating All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD), to keep the car’s 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) tires leeched onto the road or racetrack. The chassis combines high strength steel, aluminum, and a carbon fiber floor to trim weight and boost spectacle – it should also help fuel economy, tho’ Acura didn’t mention mileage in the Motor City. The price starts at $150,000. That’s not cheap, however it’s ems of thousands less than rivals from Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.
Toyota Tacoma
The Detroit display has proven that Toyota isn’t about to release its grip on the lucrative midsize pickup truck market.
Toyota’s updated Tacoma obviously doesn’t have the swoopy design of the NSX or Ford GT, or even the Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept truck, if we’re being fair. But this little truck is utterly significant to Toyota’s bottom-line, as it competes in the increasingly popular midsize pickup truck market – a segment Toyota has predominated for toughly a decade.
The two thousand sixteen Tacoma borrows design elements seen on the larger Tundra and 4Runner, such as a pronounced front grille and narrower headlights, and improves the driving practice through the use of extra sound insulation and updated cabin materials. Customers have a choice of a base 4-cylinder, or fresh Atkinson Cycle Three.5-liter V-6. Rear and all-wheel-drive is available, as are numerous off-road components via Toyota’s popular TRD trim levels.
Chevrolet Bolt
The Chevrolet Bolt EV concept offers more than two hundred miles of range.
Maybe it’s the color, or the fact that this was a genuine surprise during the Detroit demonstrate. But when it came time to choose inbetween the updated Volt plug-in hybrid, and the chirpy Bolt EV concept, we couldn’t help but give the nod to the electrified pumpkin-colored Bolt. While technically still a concept, none other than GM CEO Mary Barra stated that “if” the Bolt goes to production, it would be sold in all fifty states.
GM’s current pint-sized electrical, the Spark EV, is only available in California and Oregon. With a promised range of at least two hundred miles and a price kicking off at $30,000, the Bolt is a far more reasonable EV proposition than many others in this still fledgling segment. Sure, gas is presently cheap. But it might not stay that way for long. That’s why it’s superb to see Chevrolet hedging its bets that zero-emission motoring isn’t some passing fad, or subject to fluctuations in the price of a barrel of crude oil.
Cadillac CTS-V
If high spectacle vehicles are a sign of good times at an automaker, consider the 640-horsepower CTS-V to be a sign that times are very, very good at Cadillac.
Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac’s fresh president, wasn’t bashful when he explained to the Daily News Autos the task that lays ahead for the American luxury brand. To fight the German juggernaut in the spectacle sedan market, it will take a “courageous and bold outfit” to better the likes of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. “If we don’t evolve our brand, we will be left behind,” said de Nysschen.
The CTS-V sedan, shown for the very first time at this year’s Detroit display, certainly fits the bill for being courageous, bold…and shockingly quick! Underneath the vented bondage mask is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine that shoves out a staggering 640-horsepower. The run from zero to sixty mph takes only Trio.7 seconds, while top speed is listed at two hundred mph. Set to go on sale later this year, Cadillac’s rival to the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG will likely embark around $80,000.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept
Hyundai hinted at a potential pickup truck with the Santa Cruz Crossover truck concept.
Hyundai wants to know what you think about its truck, specifically the Santa Cruz Concept pickup presently sitting on the automaker’s stand here in Detroit. For the very first time, the South Korean automaker looks ready – or very almost – to hop into the pickup wars. Except there’s a twist with the Santa Cruz, because this isn’t fairly what you’d call a traditional pickup truck. For starters, the form reminds us more of a Honda Ridgeline (or a classic Chevrolet El Camino) than the likes of a Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado. Aimed at city-dwellers who have an appetite for weekend adventures, the Santa Cruz could pack a niche inbetween crossovers and pickups.
The muscular bod and large alloy wheels give the Santa Cruz real presence, even if some of the exaggerated details (like those extra-large alloy wheels) are rigorously the stuff of show-cars. Hyundai chose to stick a 190-horsepower turbo-diesel under the rubber hood, and coupled it to the company’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive hardware. This ensures a modicum of off-road’ability, not to mention fuel economy in the high 30-mpg range.
Buick Avenir
The Buick Avenir Concept hints that the GM division is considering adding a range-topping luxury sedan sometime in the near future.
The Detroit showcase spotted Buick unveil its very first production convertible in twenty five years. So you’d think we’d give the nod to the drop-top, right? We would, except directly after the sheet was lifted off the Cascada convertible, Buick then demonstrated us the supremely elegant Avenir concept sedan. The name means “Future” in French, and we’re very much hoping the lines of this shapely four-door is truly a hint of things to come from the Buick brand.
The tapering roofline and slight boat-tail rear styling is flawlessly detailed. From the back, if this car didn’t have a Buick badge, you’d swear it came from Maserati or Bentley – gravely, this car has one classy backside. Up front, you’ll find a direct-injection V-6 and fresh 9-speed automatic transmission. Buick could certainly use a little panache at the top of its range. The Avenir would do wonders to make GM’s most demure brand a little more daringly chic.
Infiniti Q60 Concept
The front end of the Q60 borrows from Infiniti’s practice in Formula one with Crimson Bull Racing, employing a very F1-like front splitter.
Infiniti has a serious need for a coupe in its lineup, something to take on cars like the Cadillac ATS Coupe, Lexus RC, Audi A5 and BMW 4-Series. Seen for the very first time in Detroit, the Q60 Concept shows up almost production-ready, and designed to add another tasty alternative in the luxury 2-door segment.
The front has a determined and menacing scowl to it – which we like a lot! The roof and fenders have much of the same flow and kinks that you’ll spot on the Q50 sedan. That’s a good indication the Q60 Concept isn’t far off from the production car’s sheet metal. Powering the Q60 is a fresh twin-turbocharged Three.0-liter V-6 that will migrate its way across the entire Infiniti range.
Nissan Titan
Nissan is done living in the shadows of full-size pickup rivals from Ram, Ford and Chevrolet with the fresh Titan.
Some onlookers in Detroit were turned off by the look-at-me front grille, or side glass that emerges to mimic the Ford F-150. In our opinion, however, the totally fresh Nissan Titan is a giant step in the right direction if Nissan is truly serious about being anything more than a bit player in the full-size pickup segment.
Available in rear or all-wheel-drive and with several bed lengths, cabin variations, and two choices of chassis; the Titan ultimately has more to suggest choosy buyers in the notoriously raunchy truck market. There is a choice of gasoline-powered V-6 or V-8, but Nissan was antsy to hype the fresh Cummins diesel V-8 that churns out a massive five hundred fifty five lb.-ft. of torque. The cabin has also been totally overhauled, making it miles better than the previous Titan.
Alfa Romeo Spider
Alfa Romeo’s mighty mite 4C lost its top at the Detroit Auto Demonstrate.
We’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating: The Alfa Romeo Spider 4C is one of our beloved road cars, especially when traffic clears and there are slew of forms ahead. We loved the 4C Coupe when we drove it last year – that was a raunchy one to mitt back to Alfa Romeo USA. Losing the top should only make things better, since the convertible treatment is a ideal match to the bravado of this mid-engine Italian sports car.
The 237-horsepower turbocharged 1.7-liter 4-cylinder remains the same, as does pretty much everything else about this car (with the exception of the removable roof panel, of course). That’s fine with us, since our only major gripes with the 4C were its tinny stereo and god-awful door chime. We’d gladly grab the keys to this Alfa right now – however sales officially begin this summer. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but we’d peg the 4C Spider at around $65,000, or harshly $10-grand more than the base 4C Coupe.
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2015 Detroit Auto Display: ten best concepts, cars, and trucks – NY Daily News
Ten Best cars and trucks from the Detroit Auto Display
This year’s Detroit Auto Demonstrate is fatter and better than ever, thanks to a wealth of fresh supercars, sports sedans, pickup trucks and EVs. While the shocking Ford GT stole the showcase, it was one of many fresh cars and trucks that made this one of the most interesting, eclectic and, at times, wildest auto shows in latest memory.
While the previous generation sported a massive supercharged V-8, the fresh GT keeps things light with a twin-turbocharged Three.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 capable of over 600-horsepower.
There could never be any doubt that this carbon fiber, mid-engine fantasy machine was going to earn the Daily News Autos’ coveted “Best of Detroit.” Finished in a “Liquid Blue” paintjob, you could be forgiven for thinking Ford was simply out to spoil the party over at Acura (with the launch of the fresh NSX sports car). The Ford GT is the real deal, however, with production scheduled to embark sometime in two thousand sixteen – a racing program, including the world famous twenty four Hours of Le Boy’s stamina classic, could embark as early as this summer.
Powered by a turbocharged Trio.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, upwards of 600-horsepower is delivered to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ford hasn’t mentioned how much it will cost, or how much this pared-down racer for the road might weigh. The last Ford GT – produced from 2005-2006 – tipped the scales at approximately Trio,300 lbs. and originally commenced at $139,995. We expect Ford to trim the weight down to near (or below) Trio,000 lbs., while upping the sticker price to somewhere in the region of $200-grand. We’re also requesting the keys as soon as possible for a total review!
Acura NSX
Acura hasn’t announced a model year, but customer orders begin this summer and production starts in fall, so the NSX is most likely a two thousand sixteen model.
Acura you have our sympathies, at any other auto demonstrate the lubricious fresh NSX sports car would have been the belle of the ball. This is still a pretty awesome machine – it’s simply that anything brief of the Millennium Falcon looks tame compared to the wild Ford GT. In terms of the hardware underneath the NSX’s tightly hewn sheet-metal, this Acura is an absolute powerhouse. There are not one, but THREE electrified motors to supplement the power provided by the longitudinally-mounted, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine.
The combined output of the engine and three electrified motors is 550-horsepower. This potent powertrain is then coupled to a performance-tuned version of Acura’s Super Treating All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD), to keep the car’s 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) tires leeched onto the road or racetrack. The chassis combines high strength steel, aluminum, and a carbon fiber floor to trim weight and boost spectacle – it should also help fuel economy, tho’ Acura didn’t mention mileage in the Motor City. The price starts at $150,000. That’s not cheap, however it’s ems of thousands less than rivals from Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.
Toyota Tacoma
The Detroit demonstrate has proven that Toyota isn’t about to release its grip on the lucrative midsize pickup truck market.
Toyota’s updated Tacoma obviously doesn’t have the swoopy design of the NSX or Ford GT, or even the Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept truck, if we’re being fair. But this little truck is enormously significant to Toyota’s bottom-line, as it competes in the increasingly popular midsize pickup truck market – a segment Toyota has predominated for toughly a decade.
The two thousand sixteen Tacoma borrows design elements seen on the larger Tundra and 4Runner, such as a pronounced front grille and narrower headlights, and improves the driving practice through the use of extra sound insulation and updated cabin materials. Customers have a choice of a base 4-cylinder, or fresh Atkinson Cycle Three.5-liter V-6. Rear and all-wheel-drive is available, as are numerous off-road components via Toyota’s popular TRD trim levels.
Chevrolet Bolt
The Chevrolet Bolt EV concept offers more than two hundred miles of range.
Maybe it’s the color, or the fact that this was a genuine surprise during the Detroit demonstrate. But when it came time to choose inbetween the updated Volt plug-in hybrid, and the chirpy Bolt EV concept, we couldn’t help but give the nod to the electrified pumpkin-colored Bolt. While technically still a concept, none other than GM CEO Mary Barra stated that “if” the Bolt goes to production, it would be sold in all fifty states.
GM’s current pint-sized electrified, the Spark EV, is only available in California and Oregon. With a promised range of at least two hundred miles and a price commencing at $30,000, the Bolt is a far more reasonable EV proposition than many others in this still fledgling segment. Sure, gas is presently cheap. But it might not stay that way for long. That’s why it’s good to see Chevrolet hedging its bets that zero-emission motoring isn’t some passing fad, or subject to fluctuations in the price of a barrel of crude oil.
Cadillac CTS-V
If high spectacle vehicles are a sign of good times at an automaker, consider the 640-horsepower CTS-V to be a sign that times are very, very good at Cadillac.
Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac’s fresh president, wasn’t timid when he explained to the Daily News Autos the task that lays ahead for the American luxury brand. To fight the German juggernaut in the spectacle sedan market, it will take a “courageous and bold outfit” to better the likes of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. “If we don’t evolve our brand, we will be left behind,” said de Nysschen.
The CTS-V sedan, shown for the very first time at this year’s Detroit display, certainly fits the bill for being courageous, bold…and shockingly rapid! Underneath the vented spandex hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine that thrusts out a staggering 640-horsepower. The run from zero to sixty mph takes only Three.7 seconds, while top speed is listed at two hundred mph. Set to go on sale later this year, Cadillac’s rival to the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG will likely embark around $80,000.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept
Hyundai hinted at a potential pickup truck with the Santa Cruz Crossover truck concept.
Hyundai wants to know what you think about its truck, specifically the Santa Cruz Concept pickup presently sitting on the automaker’s stand here in Detroit. For the very first time, the South Korean automaker looks ready – or very almost – to hop into the pickup wars. Except there’s a twist with the Santa Cruz, because this isn’t fairly what you’d call a traditional pickup truck. For starters, the form reminds us more of a Honda Ridgeline (or a classic Chevrolet El Camino) than the likes of a Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado. Aimed at city-dwellers who have an appetite for weekend adventures, the Santa Cruz could pack a niche inbetween crossovers and pickups.
The muscular bod and large alloy wheels give the Santa Cruz real presence, even if some of the exaggerated details (like those extra-large alloy wheels) are rigorously the stuff of show-cars. Hyundai chose to stick a 190-horsepower turbo-diesel under the rubber hood, and coupled it to the company’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive hardware. This ensures a modicum of off-road’ability, not to mention fuel economy in the high 30-mpg range.
Buick Avenir
The Buick Avenir Concept hints that the GM division is considering adding a range-topping luxury sedan sometime in the near future.
The Detroit display eyed Buick unveil its very first production convertible in twenty five years. So you’d think we’d give the nod to the drop-top, right? We would, except directly after the sheet was lifted off the Cascada convertible, Buick then demonstrated us the supremely elegant Avenir concept sedan. The name means “Future” in French, and we’re very much hoping the lines of this shapely four-door is truly a hint of things to come from the Buick brand.
The tapering roofline and slight boat-tail rear styling is flawlessly detailed. From the back, if this car didn’t have a Buick badge, you’d swear it came from Maserati or Bentley – earnestly, this car has one classy backside. Up front, you’ll find a direct-injection V-6 and fresh 9-speed automatic transmission. Buick could certainly use a little panache at the top of its range. The Avenir would do wonders to make GM’s most demure brand a little more daringly chic.
Infiniti Q60 Concept
The front end of the Q60 borrows from Infiniti’s practice in Formula one with Crimson Bull Racing, employing a very F1-like front splitter.
Infiniti has a serious need for a coupe in its lineup, something to take on cars like the Cadillac ATS Coupe, Lexus RC, Audi A5 and BMW 4-Series. Seen for the very first time in Detroit, the Q60 Concept emerges almost production-ready, and designed to add another tasty alternative in the luxury 2-door segment.
The front has a determined and menacing scowl to it – which we like a lot! The roof and fenders have much of the same flow and forms that you’ll spot on the Q50 sedan. That’s a good indication the Q60 Concept isn’t far off from the production car’s sheet metal. Powering the Q60 is a fresh twin-turbocharged Three.0-liter V-6 that will migrate its way across the entire Infiniti range.
Nissan Titan
Nissan is done living in the shadows of full-size pickup rivals from Ram, Ford and Chevrolet with the fresh Titan.
Some onlookers in Detroit were turned off by the look-at-me front grille, or side glass that emerges to mimic the Ford F-150. In our opinion, however, the totally fresh Nissan Titan is a giant step in the right direction if Nissan is truly serious about being anything more than a bit player in the full-size pickup segment.
Available in rear or all-wheel-drive and with several bed lengths, cabin variations, and two choices of chassis; the Titan ultimately has more to suggest choosy buyers in the notoriously rough truck market. There is a choice of gasoline-powered V-6 or V-8, but Nissan was anxious to hype the fresh Cummins diesel V-8 that churns out a massive five hundred fifty five lb.-ft. of torque. The cabin has also been downright overhauled, making it miles better than the previous Titan.
Alfa Romeo Spider
Alfa Romeo’s mighty mite 4C lost its top at the Detroit Auto Display.
We’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating: The Alfa Romeo Spider 4C is one of our dearest road cars, especially when traffic clears and there are slew of kinks ahead. We loved the 4C Coupe when we drove it last year – that was a harsh one to palm back to Alfa Romeo USA. Losing the top should only make things better, since the convertible treatment is a flawless match to the bravado of this mid-engine Italian sports car.
The 237-horsepower turbocharged 1.7-liter 4-cylinder remains the same, as does pretty much everything else about this car (with the exception of the removable roof panel, of course). That’s fine with us, since our only major gripes with the 4C were its tinny stereo and god-awful door chime. We’d gladly grab the keys to this Alfa right now – however sales officially begin this summer. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but we’d peg the 4C Spider at around $65,000, or toughly $10-grand more than the base 4C Coupe.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the "Join the Conversation" buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.
