This year’s cold NAIAS went out like a lamb. It will go down in my memory as quite unexciting. Perhaps that was due in part to the lack of the European brands, where Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Land Rover and Porsche were all absent from displaying vehicles. That left the door open for someone else to steal the show.
The “winner” of this year’s show was Kia. Who had two different displays for their Land Rover-esque off-road, full-size SUV named Telluride. One of the displays even had a drive event over a small off-road track.
This type of display is unheard of for NAIAS as this show is usually aimed at the industry, rather than the consumer. But that was the focus of the overall show – the consumer. I appreciate that. I find the insider industry stuff to be dull, since most is old news. So kudos to the NAIAS organizers and the participants for making it more consumer-driven.
However, can we get some excitement next year? Where was the autonomy? Where were the concepts? Other than a beautiful Lexus LC Convertible concept and some gorgeous concepts from Nissan and Infiniti, there weren’t many concepts to be had. And concepts, a glimpse into the automotive future, are one of the things I enjoy most about NAIAS.
So, rather than talking about my disappointment of what wasn’t there, let’s take a look at some of my favorites:
• 2019 Kia Telluride: As mentioned, the Telluride was the star of the show. This SUV is being called a midsize by its maker, but it's big. It's larger than the popular Sorento. It is Kia's first made-in-the-USA vehicle, aimed at the American consumer. The off-road ability will remind consumers of off-road beasts of the past like the Ford Bronco and Land Rover. The 2019 Kia Telluride goes on sale in late March or early May.
• 2020 Toyota Supra: We last saw the Supra in 1998, the year I was married. So it's been a long time since this sports car has been on the road. For 2020, it's back, with BMW-type looks and a BMW underpinning. While the Supra may look like a Z4, it has already impressed with a powerful engine to match its aggressive styling. The Supra's 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine makes 335 horsepower (sorry enthusiasts, no manual transmission offered). I for one, cannot wait to drive it, but I'll have to wait until summer time for this beauty.
• 2019 Jeep Gladiator: A cool name for a cool brand. The Gladiator is like a Jeep Wrangler with a truck bed. That's the best way to describe it. It can do everything a Wrangler can do as far as off-road ruggedness. The five-foot truck bed adds a quirky look to this glorified Wrangler. But certainly there will be much interest for this vehicle amongst Jeep enthusiasts. It certainly was one of the stars of NAIAS. The Gladiator will have a 3.6-liter engine with 285 hp, along with a 3.0-liter diesel engine option. It will be on sale this spring; you may have to order one ahead of time as it's sure to be quite popular.
• 2020 Lincoln Aviator: Lincoln has tried (unsuccessfully) in the past to create a luxury-branded Ford Explorer. The MKT was quite forgettable. Enter the Aviator, which tries again to be the upscale version of the Explorer. From what I saw at NAIAS it has achieved that. The looks are stunning, distinctive and definitely not just a "glorified" Explorer. The twin turbo V6 engine makes 400 hp which will make this an aggressive midsize luxury SUV. Yes, please! The Aviator doesn't have an official release date; pricing has been less-than-forthright, but it should be available for sale by late spring or early summer.
• 2019 Honda Passport: Similar to the Kia Telluride, family adventures are the focus in Honda's resurrection of the Passport. The five-passenger Passport has rugged abilities but shares the platform with the larger Pilot. However, it has larger wheels and sits higher off the ground than the Pilot. I loved the blacked-out trim on the Passport. It has distinction within the rather conservatively styled Honda family. What's old is new again, a common theme for this year's show. The release date is not set for the Passport, but it's expected to be on car lots before summer.
These are some of my highlights from this year’s NAIAS. The years fly by. That drive up I-75 is a breeze. And honestly, if you’ve never been to the Detroit auto show, it’s something to take in, even on a down year like this year’s show. It still represents the best of the automotive industry.
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