Judging by the comments made by automotive industry stakeholders in Automotive World’s ‘Guide to the automotive world in 2015’, the US automotive industry has a good year ahead of it.
Echoing those sentiments, Mary Barra was recently reported as saying that US light vehicle sales in 2015 could be the highest since 2001, coming in at between 16.5 and 17 million units.
A week after vehicle manufacturers and suppliers stole the show at International CES in Las Vegas, it’s the turn of the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) to further underline the latest advances in automotive technology, and reaffirm the industry’s growing confidence. Highlights at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show include:
- Ford’s all-new GT mid-engine sports car, which appeared in close to production-ready concept form, and is expected around 2016;
- GM’s latest all-electric contender, the Chevrolet Bolt, which is understood to be slated for production in 2017;
- Honda’s unveiling of the Acura NSX production version coupled with news that it will launch a plug-in hybrid and a battery EV by 2018;
- The Local Motors Strati, the world’s first 3D printed car – this has been seen before, but the announcement that Local Motors will open two microfactories in 2015 at Knoxville and Washington, D.C., was all-new;
- Jaguar’s confirmation of the Solihull, UK-built F-Pace, the production name for the highly popular C-X17 concepts;
- Bentley’s confirmation that its SUV will be called the Bentayga reportedly saw the OEM field over 4,000 preorders.
Also from the show come suggestions from Johan de Nysschen that Cadillac will launch an entry-level sedan to help the brand compete with offerings from the German premium OEMs. De Nysschen reportedly has a budget of US$12bn to develop eight new models by 2020. And there were reports that Alfa Romeo will launch its first compact SUV in 2016.
With gasoline currently heading towards US$2 a gallon, many eyes will be on the SUVs, but boom and bust cycles suggest that the longer-term visions of light weight, highly efficient vehicles with electrified powertrains could be the way to get to 2020.
The Detroit show traditionally sees the presentation of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. For 2015, the prizes went to the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford F-150 respectively. The F-150’s win comes as little surprise, beating the second and third-placed Chevrolet Colorado and Lincoln MKC, but Volkswagen will be delighted that the Golf took the top prize from the Mustang and the Hyundai Genesis; the award will give a major boost to the VW brand, which has struggled in the US market.
Here, Automotive World looks at the key new model launches and concepts at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS)
NEW MODEL LAUNCHES AT THE 2015 DETROIT AUTO SHOW (NAIAS)
DAIMLER
Mercedes-Benz C 350 Plug-In Hybrid LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz GLE
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES (FCA)
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider: the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider was unveiled by Reid Bigland, Head of Alfa Romeo North America LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Lincoln MKX
GAC
GS4: The only Chinese OEM to put in an appearance at this year’s NAIAS was GAC, which used the event for the worldwide debut of its GS4 compact SUV. The OEM’s choice of Detroit for the model’s premier is a reflection of its global ambitions. “We are not just making good cars, we are building a world-class auto brand in the hope and expectation that consumers around the world will come to know and like what GAC Motor has to offer!” observed GAC general manager Wu Song. GAC may be seeking global recognition, but the GS4 is described as “very much a created-in-China, designed-in-China and made-in-China model – in all respects a Chinese-proprietary model.” GAC has confirmed it “is not planning to roll out any new models in the American market for the foreseeable future.” LINK TO AUTOMOTIVE WORLD ARTICLE
GENERAL MOTORS
Chevrolet Volt LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Buick Cascada LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HONDA MOTOR COMPANY
Acura NSX: Honda has unveiled the production version of the highly anticipated all-new Acura NSX. Developed and manufactured in the US, the mid-engine hybrid sports car has a twin-turbocharged DOHC V6 engine with 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) built within an ultra-rigid, lightweight multi-material body. Dealers will begin taking customer orders in the summer of 2015. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid: Hyundai’s first plug-in vehicle brings to three the group’s portfolio of electrified powertrains that also includes the Hyundai Tucson (ix35) Fuel Cell and the Kia Soul EV. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY
Nissan Titan XD: The Titan XD is all-new, and marks Nissan’s return to the full-size pick-up segment. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
CONCEPT CARS AT 2015 DETROIT AUTO SHOW (NAIAS)
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES (FCA)
Maserati Ghibli Ermenegildo Zegna Edition design concept
Maserati Alfieri 2+2 concept
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Ford GT concept: trailed as the Phoenix, Ford’s next-generation GT has been unveiled at Detroit. Ford says the lightweight 600hp carbon fibre ultra-high-performance sports supercar “serves as a technology showcase for top EcoBoost performance, aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fibre construction”. The GT is expected to be available around 2016. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
GENERAL MOTORS
Chevrolet Bolt: Not a typo, the Bolt is GM’s all-electric CUV concept that looks set to pitch GM head to head with Tesla’s affordable electric car in the US$30k bracket. Expect to see the car go into production around 2017. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Buick Avenir: it’s the future! LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
NISSAN MOTOR
Infiniti Q60: Infiniti’s latest show car is the Q60, a 2-door sports coupe concept which “hints at Infiniti’s next sports coupe…” LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
LOCAL MOTORS
Strati: the world’s first 3D printed car rolled onto the stage at the Detroit Auto Show, as the company announced plans to open two microfactories in 2015 at Knoxville and Washington, D.C.
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP
Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
