Contents Show
The first part was about the Audi h-Tron Quattro Concept, the new Audi A4 Allroad, the new Volvo S90, the new BMW M2 and the PHEV-Tiguan, which VW is presenting as a “concept”.
Here is part 1 of the 10 NAIAS highlights
NAIAS 2016 in Detroit - these were the highlights of the fair this year (part 2)
With the current trend in petrol prices, the premieres of electric and hybrid vehicles are almost out of date, one might think. But the future belongs to efficient vehicles and new technologies. There is no doubt about that. The announcement by Mercedes-Benz that it will have 2017 PHEV vehicles in its range by the end of 10 and also a hydrogen SUV from the Mercedes GLC series shows how seriously the automotive industry is taking the change in technology. Nevertheless, the auto show in Detroit also showed that sporty cars and - very important for the USA - pick-ups are still the pillars when it comes to “automotive emotions”. The premiere of the new Porsche Turbo, the Nissan study with the Titan Warrior - good examples of the balancing act that has to be done in the automotive industry. Establishing new drive technologies on the one hand, and appealing to the heart and soul of car buyers on the other.
mein-auto-blog has along with ausfahrt.tv and rad-ab.com created a video about the most important innovations at the fair. We think it gives you a good overview of NAIAS 2016:
[one_fourth last=last]- NISSAN TITAN Warrior study
- Buick Avista
- Ford Fusion
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Mercedes-Benz SLC
Three men, three opinions on cars. Jan from ausfahrt.tv and Jens from rad-ab.com each have their own opinion on the highlights, I have my own opinion on the highlights and together we agreed on the vehicles in the video. The highlights are highlighted again here in the blog. From my point of view there were still at least two cars that should have been put into the video: the new one LEXUS LC500 and the new one Infiniti Q60 Coupe, But there will soon be separate articles for both vehicles on autohub.de.
Part 2 - the top 10 highlights of NAIAS 2016
NISSAN TITAN Warrior study
A study that stands alone as a statement. Nobody needs this car, but the enthusiasm for this Nissan according to FORD Raptor is huge. With the Titan Warrior, the Japanese car manufacturer is testing acceptance for a corresponding series model. In the current times, with cheap fuel prices and the unbroken desire for the pick-up truck, a legitimate strategy.
Nissan has jacked up the Warrior a good eight centimeters compared to the series TITAN. Massive 37-inch wheels were balanced in the wheel arches, hardcore damping was installed and the look was not spared on “martial facial features”. Under the hood? An at least five-liter V8 turbo-diesel from the US diesel expert Cummins. Power? Over 300 HP - that's for sure! Unfortunately, one thing is still completely uncertain: Will the TITAN Warrior ever be available in a production version? With the current fuel price developments and the continued acceptance of pick-ups, it could be. Ford Raptor and Dodge RAM Rebel are leading the way.
Buick Avista
It doesn't matter whether the AVISTA comes to us in Germany as an Opel Monza or the new Calibra, the main thing is that it will ever come as a production vehicle. And then please also to us in Germany. The GM subsidiary BUICK presents the AVISTA in Detroit. A visually successful sports coupé with very classic proportions. Large wheels, short overhangs and details that flatter the eye. One can only congratulate the designers - this is exactly how the next sports coupé from the Rüsselsheim-based company should look.
Under the hood, the study promises a V6 Bi-Turbo, three-liter displacement, around 400 hp. The interior looks tidy and sporty. And under the sheet? The existing Chevrolet Camaro platform could then make the concept a reality. So Opel? To build!
Ford “Fusion” - the Mondeo got a facelift
As soon as you introduce yourself, the facelift is ready. The delayed start of the Ford Mondeo (FUSION the name in the USA) in Europe leads to a “tight” schedule in the life of the Cologne limousine. FORD USA presented the facelift of the Fusion in Detroit. And one can assume that this facelift will soon also adorn the Mondeo. To give all current Mondeo drivers the all-clear: The facelift was kept discreet. A sharper grille, a more dynamic rear view. It's the details that change. Even in the cockpit. FORD throws out the classic automatic selector lever and positions a rotary switch in Jaguar fashion. One of the new engines under the Fusion's hood is exciting. A V6 bi-turbo with around 325 hp. Something like that could well come to Germany as the FORD MONDEO ST. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the fans of sporty FORDs at this point.
It should be clear that the Mondeo has Sync3. Because with the most recent expansion of its multimedia system, FORD continues to occupy a top position among entertainment and connectivity systems. This time the graphic design and the integration of Apple CarPlay are particularly impressive.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
If there could only be one highlight, then Mercedes-Benz should be able to assert this for itself with the premiere of the new E-Class. The Stuttgart business sedan celebrated its world premiere in Detroit, even though the pictures had already been released to the public a week earlier. Nevertheless - no novelty in Detroit is as important for the respective manufacturer's market as the upper middle class of the Swabians.
The E fits between C and S. Not only at the CES
While the exterior of the E-Class was hardly surprising, it was clear that the E-Class visually landed between C and S, which scores new E-Class especially with technical features and the redesign of the interior. Mercedes-Benz has maintained the pace of innovation of recent years and, with the new E-Class, is also introducing a completely new platform for safety, assistance and multimedia systems. The seamless integration of the smartphone has been extremely successful for a manufacturer as conservative as Mercedes-Benz. The new assistance systems, which are often based on radar and camera sensors, also bring the “partially autonomous” option to this class for the first time.
The fact that Mercedes-Benz is also presenting a new generation of engines for diesel engines and, incidentally, is showing the plug-in hybrid version at the premiere, is a little lost in the general hype about the design of the cockpit. While the brilliant 12.3 inch HD displays are directly present in the dashboard, the new engines and the drive train known from the C350e do their job rather “hidden”. You can also look forward to the upcoming T series and another new generation of engines, with 6 cylinders in line again under the bonnet.
Mercedes-Benz SLC
And then there was the new SLK. Pardon. The new SLC. On the We have already reported on “Womanizer” with the retractable roof. More about the “C-Class” roadster (if someone really wants to believe that!) after the driving event.