The Detroit Auto Show – officially the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) – falls particularly awkwardly this year. Whilst the marketing and PR departments become increasingly accustomed – or resigned – to planning annual back-to-back shows in Nevada and Michigan, senior management has been doing its best in recent weeks and months to plan for the impact of an all-new US administration.
Although the press gets an early look around the show, NAIAS ends officially on 22 January, the third day of Donald Trump’s presidency. One might, of course, be forgiven for thinking he’d already been sworn in; the two big local OEMs will be pulling out all the stops at the Cobo Center to accentuate the positive after seeing their CES campaigns overshadowed by the President-elect’s urge to do business by Twitter.
Mobility services, mobility solutions, artificial intelligence, Big Data, car sharing and autonomous driving are high on the agenda for every OEM, and the excitement of fast-moving new technology has already been unveiled in Las Vegas; it’s thus left to those OEMs exhibiting at the Detroit show to generate as much additional interest as possible with the metalwork that still forms their core business.
As ever, several key brands have opted to not run booths at Detroit this year, including BMW Group’s Mini and Rolls-Royce marques, VW Group’s Bentley and Porsche, as well as Jaguar Land Rover and Maserati. Tesla, of course, is a rarity at auto shows. Inevitably, the conversation will once again turn to the timing of the Detroit auto show, the relevance of the event, and indeed the relevance of any auto show in its current form.
Let’s save such discussions for another time, though, and focus our attention for now on the debuts scheduled for the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.
Here, Automotive World takes a look at the highlights of the 2017 Detroit auto show. This article will be updated throughout the show’s press days to include key new model launches.
Some of the most significant new models and concept cars at the 2017 Detroit auto show include:
BMW GROUP
BMW
5 Series Sedan – The new BMW 5 Series model range sees the world’s most successful business sedan enter its seventh generation. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
Concept X2 – The sporty Concept X2 makes its US premiere as an urban-concept addition to the compact segment. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
DAIMLER
Mercedes-Benz
AMG GT C Coupé – The new vehicle will initially be available exclusively as a special Edition 50 model. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
E-Class Coupé – The E-Class Coupe offers full smartphone integration, Widescreen Cockpit and the latest driver assistance systems. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
GENERAL MOTORS
Chevrolet
Traverse – This next-gen Traverse is Chevrolet’s latest crossover/SUV offering. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Kia
Stinger – The name of Kia’s GT has been revealed at last. The Stinger – described by the OEM as a five-passenger fastback sports sedan – will go on sale in late 2017. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY
Infiniti
QX50 Concept – The Infiniti QX50 Concept showcases the brand’s vision for a next-generation mid-size premium SUV. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
Nissan
Vmotion 2.0 Concept – The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept made its world debut at the NAIAS, previewing the next-generation Altima. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Lexus
LS – World debut of the new Lexus LS. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP
Audi
A5 Cabriolet – The A5 features a fully automatic soft top and will be shown in the US for the first time at NAIAS 2017. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
Q8 concept – The addition of a Q8 model to Audi’s utility vehicle range will be preceded by the debut at NAIAS of what the OEM calls a near production-ready concept version. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
S5 Cabriolet – The S5 offers the same advanced infotainment system as the A5 Coupe and Sportback models. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
SQ5 – Unveiled in November 2015, the second-generation SQ5, complete with a new turbocharged V6 engine, makes its motor show and US debuts at the 2017 NAIAS. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
Volkswagen
I.D Microbus – The electric I.D microbus concept will be powered by two electric motors, and will be equipped to function in autonomous mode. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
Tiguan Allspace – Volkswagen launches a lengthened version of the bestseller in its latest addition to the Tiguan range. LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
