Buick has managed to sneak a surprise into the 2015 North American International Auto Show and what a beautiful surprise it is. We can only hope the Avenir (French for “future”) is true to its name and shows us what a flagship Buick will look like in the next year or two. With sculpted flowing lines, chrome everywhere and a dramatic boat tail rear, the Avenir proves that automotive design is alive and well inside GM. We know that the concept features a new V6 and a new 9-speed automatic, plus all-wheel drive. Inside there is luxurious seating for four and a 12″ screen for the latest Buick infotainment system. With the Cadillac CT6 coming soon we fully expect that this Buick would share that platform and we hope GM officials have the same plan and push this into production soon. Buick has been without a flagship for too long.
It’s been a long time coming, but the Acura NSX finally left the concept world behind and became a real deal production car at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. It doesn’t happen often, but we think the final product actually looks better than all the show cars that came before. Bathed in deep red paint the NSX looks impossibly low, dramatic and futuristic with beautiful wheels at the far corners and floating C-pillars to cap it off. The mid-engine V6 is turbocharged for more than 550 hp and combines with electric motors to drive all four wheels for precise handling. Acura left the interior relatively traditional with only colorful leather work and a red starter button to set it off. Acura is leaving a lot of details unannounced until closer to the NSX’s launch later this year but we’re glad to finally know it’s a looker and a welcome return to a sports car atop the brand’s lineup.
Ford Performance saw a golden opportunity with the introduction of the aluminum bodied F-150. If the outgoing Raptor was a good thing, certainly a 500 lb. lighter model would be an irresistible follow up. Emblazoned with its trademark F-O-R-D lettering spanning the width of the grille, flared fenders and curious running lights in the grille, this Raptor looks poised to continue to win the praise of the off-roading crowd. The 2016 Raptor is powered by an all-new high output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that Ford claims will better the current 6.2-liter V8’s 411 horsepower and 434 lb. ft. of torque while burning less fuel. All this power is transferred via an all-new 10 speed automatic transmission which can be manually shifted using paddles. Featuring FOX Racing Shox and increased suspension travel, Ford assures that the Raptor is ready to combat the toughest terrain. The flared body panels are a full six inches wider than the standard F-150. No fewer than six drive modes are selectable for driving on all sorts of terrain including normal, street, weather, mud, baja and rock. For those who want a truck that can do more than simply shuttle lumber home from the hardware store, the Raptor looks to continue to please. Unfortunately, you’ll be waiting until the fall of 2016 to drive one home.
We didn’t expect a follow up to the mighty GT supercar at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, but that is exactly what we got thanks to Ford’s heavy emphasis on performance and nobody on the AT Staff is complaining. With a far more expressive and modern design this time around the new GT looks ready to line up next to anything from Lamborghini or Ferrari, and with a twin turbo V6 making 600+ hp sitting midship, the performance should be exceptional. Large carbon ceramic brakes and performance tires from Michelin are also included and the best part by far: Ford is building it next year.
Not content to have the Chevrolet Camaro nipping at its heals with such headline models as the ZL1 and Z/28, Ford has added a track package to the Mustang portfolio dubbed the Shelby GT350R. Ford claims the GT350R is the most track-capable production Mustang ever and yet is fully road-legal. Some of the enhancements above and beyond the standard Shelby GT350 include the industry’s first ever carbon fiber wheels, Ford’s first production V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, and a specially tuned suspension. The deck-lid features a wild rear wing constructed of carbon fiber as well as a revised front splitter to maximize down force. The GT350R manages to be the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine in history with more than 500 fire breathing horses and north of 400 lb-ft of twist. If this combination of power, performance and style isn’t enough for you, just wait. Ford Performance is promising at least 11 more tantalizing vehicles by 2020.
It was a little surreal to be watching a full blown Alfa Romeo press conference at the North American International Auto Show, but there we were bearing witness to the storied manufacturer’s American return. And amid all the history and beautiful old race cars was the realization that the brand is starting off with a bang thanks to the stunning 4C coupe and now Spider. The Spider shares the same 1.75-liter turbo four with 237 hp sent through a 6-speed dual clutch paddle shifted transmission to the rear wheels. Alfa was proud to announce that the curb weight remains about 2,500 pounds providing a significant savings compared to rivals from Audi, Porsche and BMW. As for pricing, we’d expect a starting point in the mid-$60k range.
Nissan has pulled back the cover on the first major redesign to its full-size Titan pickup truck. Rather than reveal the entire Titan lineup, Nissan focused our attention on a model that is sure to set the truck apart. The Titan XD straddles what Nissan calls the ‘white space’ in the truck market. Nissan observed that there are no V8 diesel pickup trucks in the light duty market; if one wants a V8 diesel they must upgrade to a heavy duty truck such as a Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado HD, or GMC Sierra HD. Keep in mind both the Ram 1500 3.0-liter diesel and heavy duty 6.7-liter diesel models are b0th six cylinders. To fill that white space, the Titan XD offers a 5.0-liter V8 turbo diesel developed by Cummins. This segment busting diesel provides 310 horsepower and a staggering 555 lb-ft of torque that is transferred through a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission. All of this innovation is hidden below all-new sheet metal that unfortunately looks alarmingly like a last generation Ford F-150. While Ford has its aluminum bodied F-150, Ram has a range extending V6 diesel and General Motors has the not quite full-size Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, it appears that Nissan may have found a large niche in the truck market with the Titan XD.
Chevrolet followed up the new second-generation Volt with a good look at what kind of full electric vehicle it intends to offer in just a few years. The Bolt Concept is targeting a $30k price (after government subsidies) and a 200-mile range from an all-new GM developed battery pack. The Bolt certainly looks ready to transport a young family around with good space for four and an easy to access hatch for cargo. We’re glad to see the styling isn’t nearly as off-putting as the BMW i cars and we’re glad to see GM hasn’t let soft sales of the first gen Volt slow down its plans for electric development.
Loyal Chevrolet Volt owners have proven a valuable resource to GM Team members tasked with following up the ambitious plug-in hybrid with an all-new 2016 model. From faster acceleration to better charging cord storage, Volt owners led GM toward a more conventional looking sedan inside and out that now features much improved usability. Engineers redesigned every powertrain component for reduced weight and improved efficiency. A larger capacity battery now supplies 50 miles of electric range before firing up the 1.5-liter I4 to keep the juice flowing. With a 200 pound weight loss, Chevy expects 41 mpg when the gas engine is running. Cheap gasoline won’t be around forever, and when it’s gone you might find yourself liking what the new Volt offers.
With the industry’s best sales year since 2006 in the books, we are expecting a party when the doors open on the 2015 NAIAS. And if there’s one thing that will bring the Automotive Trends team together, it’s a party with free food and drink. But this year’s Detroit Auto Show promises much more than just cheap champagne thanks to a heavy focus on performance. We have heard rumblings of a reborn Ford GT supercar, a even hotter Shelby GT350 Mustang, a Cadillac CTS-V with just 10 less horsepower than the new Z06 Corvette and, at long last, a production Acura NSX. Bold styling will also vie for the spotlight with concepts like the Buick Avenir and Infiniti Q60 gracing show stands. To bring it all to you we’ve packed up the office, bought out the Costco candy aisle and stocked the hotel mini fridge in an attempt to bring you all the video highlights from the Motor City in the days ahead. You can also follow us on Twitter @automotvtrnds for news as it’s happening.
