Highlights from the 2018 Detroit Auto Show
More stories from Wyatt Anness
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) ended Sunday, Jan. 28. The show allowed the public to see what big brands like Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are producing when it comes to new innovations and vehicles in the industry. Here are some of the highlights from the event.
Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA)
FCA, which covers the brands Jeep, Dodge, Fiat , Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Ram, and Maserati, unveiled a lot of new redesigns for some of their flagship vehicles. Ram trucks revealed the new redesign for the Ram 1500. This newly redesigned truck boasts a new front end and grill, which completely removes the iconic “crosshair grill” on their previous models. As far as features of the Ram 1500, it comes equipped a large 12-inch infotainment system. The Ram 1500 can also come spec’d with a Pentastar V6 engine and removes a conventional alternator and starter, instead opting for a electric motor to start the engine. Jeep showcased the 2018 Wrangler, which is another redesign of the classic SUV. The new Wrangler has a completely redesigned interior and a new exterior design. The Rubicon edition also has a lot of new features, like a partially movable front bumper and lifted flares to allow for bigger wheels and tires. Jeep also showcased the slight redesign of the Cherokee, touching up the front end of the SUV a little bit.
Ford
Ford also had a lot of new vehicles being showcased at the auto show. Ford revealed the new 2019 Ford Ranger, marking the return of the Ranger, which was last produced in 2011. Not a lot is known about the specific specs of the Ranger’s engine, but it will come optional WiFi hotspot and many other cabin features. Ford also revealed the 2019 Bullitt Mustang, based off of the iconic Mustang used by Steve McQueen in the movie “Bullitt.” The new Bullitt is only offered in a manual transmission and also has fifteen more horsepower than the standard Mustang GT.
Chevy
Chevy showcased the brand new 2019 Chevy Silverado. The Silverado got a complete redesign and a new option diesel engine. The new Silverado also comes equipped with a host of technology features, with an abundance of USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot and more. Chevy also showcased the 2019 Corvette ZR1, which is a super-high performance version of the already impressive Corvette. It comes standard with 755 horsepower, a top speed of 212 miles-per-hour, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, and many more performance features.
Other Highlights
Various companies with smaller showings still featured quite impressive vehicles. Kia unveiled their new high-performance sedan, the Stinger. The Stinger has an impressive 4.7 second 0-60 time and 365 horsepower. Hyundai showcased their completely new redesigned Veloster, which comes with 275 horsepower in the high performance N model, manual transmission, heads up display and more. Lexus showcased their new LF-1 limitless CUV, which shows the future of what Lexus has to offer.
