2019 North American International Auto Show wrap-up

Wyatt Anness, Staff Writer

The North American International Auto Show took place this January for the last time, and will be happening in June for future shows. The show ran from Jan. 14 to Jan. 27. There were significantly less reveals than last year, along with key European automakers like Audi,  BMW and Mercedes being absent from the show. However, there are still some new vehicles worth highlighting.

In one of the most notable releases of the whole show, Toyota revealed their new take on the classic Supra. The Supra was originally released in 1978 and ended production in 2002. It has been out of production until now. The 2020 Toyota Supra is based off of the BMW Z4 platform. The resurrected design boasts a strong 335 horsepower along with a 4.1 second zero-to-sixty time. Pricing for the Supra starts at $50,920 and can go upwards of $56,180 for the launch edition.

Ford also had a big performance car reveal with the 2020 Shelby GT500 Mustang. The GT500 is quipped more than 700 horsepower and 650 pound feet of torque making it a really, really fast car with a zero-to-sixty under 4 seconds. Ford also revealed the 2020 Ford Explorer, one of their most popular vehicles in their fleet. The 2020 Explorer received style updates that give the SUV a sportier look. There is also an ST option for the redesigned explorer upgrading vehicle with a 400 hp engine and sport-tuned suspension.

Continuing their luxury SUV dominance, Lincoln showcased their mid sized Aviator SUV. The Aviator comes equipped with luxury features such as a large infotainment screen, massaging seats and clean styling making it similar to the Lincoln Navigator. What powers the Aviator is a twin-turbo V6 producing a solid 400 horsepower. Lincoln is also celebrating the 80th anniversary of their flagship sedan, the Continental. To commemorate this, Lincoln is producing 80 Continental specially equipped with its passenger doors being hinged at the rear as opposed to the front. The coach doors pay homage to the design of the Continental in the 1960’s.

Jeep showcased their new Wrangler pickup called the Gladiator. The Gladiator is what you’d expect from a normal Wrangler (removable doors, windows and amazing off-road performance) but has the added benefit of being a mid-size pickup truck. Ram revealed their new 2019 heavy duty truck, which comes with a 6.7 Turbo Diesel engine and 35,100 pound towing limit. The Ram Heavy Duty also has an available 12-inch infotainment system and an assortment of safety features based on the selected trim level.