The first major new car event of 2017, the Detroit Motor Show (also known as the North American International Auto Show) is held each January and this year runs from 8-22nd January. Maximum buzz so far at the event has centred around these top 5 showstoppers:
Chevrolet Bolt
An affordable all-electric car that is famed for its apparent ability to go more than 200 miles (238 to be precise) on a single battery charge. It won Car of the Year which is voted for by auto writers at the show. Although a concept car, it’s a lot nearer production than many. It’s set to transform general opinion of electric cars with its impressive range. Swift acceleration, an ultra-modern interior and an affordable price tag mean it’s definitely one to watch.
Kia Stinger
A surprisingly sporty model from the South Korean automaker due to hit the market in late 2017. The car comes with a choice of engines; a 2.0-litre, turbocharged I4 or, more excitingly perhaps, a 3.3-litre, twin-turbo V6! The new sporty design has been well received and is set to attract non-typical Kia buyers.
Toyota Camry
The 2018 Camry is reported to be the most exciting vehicle released by Toyota in recent years. Their top-selling sedan has had more than a facelift. It’s longer, wider and curvier, giving a sleeker and sportier appeal. Choose from a 3.5-litre six-cylinder, a four-cylinder or a gas-electric hybrid engine. It includes a pre-collision pedestrian detection system and lane departure alert as standard.
Audi SQ5
This was one of the biggest surprises of the event. Although rumoured, it really wasn’t expected to be ready so early. A compact SUV with a 3.0-litre V6 engine, which, in a nutshell, produces 354 horsepower! It comes with height-adjustable suspension, increased interior space over compared with the previous model and a range of funky extras including Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, MMI touch with handwriting recognition, Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto integration. It’s available as early as spring 2017.
Chrysler Pacifica
The self-driving minivan designed by Google engineers was shown off at Detroit. Google’s self-driving division, Waymo is collaborating with Fiat Chrysler on the minivan. It’s rare these days to find an auto show that ignores self-driving technology. Big news at the event reported that the cost of producing radar and other key equipment in the driverless vehicle had been dramatically reduced. With testing on public roads starting later in January, this is another step nearer to the reality of driverless cars.
