The Chief Economist of the US National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Steven Szakaly, expects sales of new passenger cars and light trucks to reach an all-time record high this year. In all, light vehicle sales are expected to be around 17.7 million units in 2016, which would translate into a 2% increase compared with the levels witnessed in 2015. A year-on-year increase in 2016 will also translate into the seventh consecutive year of sales growth in the US, according to Szakaly.
This year, the country’s automotive industry is expected to focus significantly on connected car technologies. This does not solely revolve around the increasing talk on autonomous cars either. Take, for instance, plans at the US Department of Transportation to propose rules requiring new vehicles to feature vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices.
Developments on the safety aspect are expected this year as well, coming on the back of developments following the Takata airbag recall. Here, developments in technology are expected to bring about changes in the country’s new car assessment program (NCAP). For instance, NHTSA is due to finalise changes in this programme this year, which will see the addition of crash avoidance and pedestrian protection.
Here, Automotive World takes a look at the key model launches at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), which takes place a week after the auto industry-heavy CES, and not long after the end of a record year for US light vehicle sales; in 2015, the US light vehicle market scored a new 12-month record, with Autodata figures putting the full year total at 17.47 million units, topping the previous record of 17.4 that was set in 2000.
NEW MODEL LAUNCHES AT THE 2016 DETROIT AUTO SHOW (NAIAS)
BMW GROUP
2016 BMW M2
BMW has introduced the all-new M2, the new entry model of the M series. The car features a newly developed M Twin Power Turbo technology 3-litre, six-cylinder engine. The 2016 BMW M2 will enter dealerships in the country starting in April this year. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
2016 BMW X4 M40i
Another BMW model making its global debut is the X4 M40i. This model will go on sale in February 2016. According to the OEM the X4 M40i features a chassis tuned to M Performance specifications, including BMW ConnectedDrive, intelligent XDrive and TwinScroll turbo technology. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
DAIMLER
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The official launch of the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class was somewhat trumped by the car’s appearance a few days earlier at the 2016 CES in Las Vegas. The OEM says this tenth-generation version of the business sedan “delivers stylish highlights with its distinct, emotive design and high-grade interior… New E-Class also marks the world premiere of numerous technical innovations.” LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES
2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler has unveiled its 2017 Pacifica minivan at the 2016 NAIAS. The OEM has re-engineered the model from the ground up, on an all-new platform. Chrysler is offering the new Pacifica in six models, and the Pacifica Hybrid in two models. The former will enter showrooms in spring this year, followed by the hybrid version in the second half of this year. Chrysler produces this model at its assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Ford Fusion
The 2016 NAIAS played host to the launch of the refreshed Ford Fusion which the OEM says is the smartest, most technology-packed Fusion ever. The offering includes a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a new all-wheel drive version of the vehicle. This is also the first Ford car in North America with a pedestrian detection system. This version of the Fusion is slated to go on sale in summer 2016, followed by the Fusion V6 Sport a few weeks later. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
F-150 Raptor
GEELY
Volvo S90
Volvo Cars’ offering at this year’s Detroit motor show is the S90 premium sedan, a move that the OEM says highlights its commitment to the US market. The move to launch this premium sedan in the US also highlights the OEM’s confidence in the strength of the US automotive market in 2016. The OEM is seeing this launch as the second chapter in the complete renewal of Volvo’s product range, which began last year with the launch of the new XC90 SUV. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
GENERAL MOTORS
Buick Avista Concept
Buick is unveiling its Avista Concept at the Detroit motor show, a 2+2 coupe. The OEM has called this a modern expression of the brand’s heritage. The rear-wheel drive car features a 400hp twin-turbocharged V6. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Buick Envision
The brand has also unveiled the 2016 Envision. The OEM is pitching this Chinese-built vehicle as a global vehicle and as an all-new luxury compact crossover. Buick says it has been designed from the ground up for this segment, and will go on sale in the second quarter of 2016 to compete against the likes of the Acura RDX and the Lincoln MKC. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback
Also being introduced at the 2016 NAIAS is Chevrolet’s 2017 Cruze Hatchback, joining the Colorado and the Trax as the latest Chevrolet models to push into new segments. While the hatch has the same wheelbase as the sedan model, it features a unique roof and rear-end structure. The model goes on sale this fall. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HONDA
Acura Precision Concept
Acura has taken the wraps off its Precision Concept at the 2016 Detroit motor show. According to the OEM, the car, which was developed by the Acura Design Studio in California, is more than just a concept car; it is being viewed as a design study model which will shape the direction of all future Acura products, especially sedans. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Honda Ridgeline
Honda’s all-new 2017 Ridgeline pick-up has made its world debut at the 2016 NAIAS. This model was designed, developed and is manufactured in America, and is scheduled to go on sale in the US in the first half of this year. The light truck segment has worked well for Honda in the US. Last year, the OEM posted record-high sales with year-on-year growth of nearly 12%. With the 2017 Ridgeline, Honda has focussed on aspects such as performance, space, features that are a first for this segment, connectivity, etc. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Genesis G90
Kia Telluride concept
Conceived at Kia’s California design studio, the Telluride concept “makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America (KDCA).
NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY
Infiniti Q60 sports coupe
Infiniti has unveiled its all-new 2017 Q60 sports coupe at the NAIAS. This is the third-generation version of the brand’s sports coupe. With regard to exterior design, the car maintains the lines and sharp angles of the original concept, which was revealed at the 2015 NAIAS. It is hoped that this model will help attract new customers to the Infiniti brand and cement the brand’s position in the sports coupe segment. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Nissan TITAN Warrior Concept
The Nissan brand, meanwhile, has unveiled a super-sized, off-road modified design study it calls the TITAN Warrior Concept. This model was created by Nissan Design America in La Jolla, California. The TITAN Warrior Concept builds on the recent Project Titan, a crowd-sourced customisation of an original-generation Titan XD. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Lexus LC 500
First shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show as the LF-LC concept, Lexus has confirmed at the 2016 show that it will produce the vehicle as the LC 500, a luxury coupe which the OEM says defines a new era for the brand. The LC 500 is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform that does not share with any current Lexus models and is part of the new corporate global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA-L). LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP
Audi A4 allroad quattro
Volkswagen Group’s Audi brand has introduced its A4 allroad quattro at the Detroit motor show, featuring a sharper design. The quattro drive is standard and the car has gained 34mm in ground clearance. Two electric motors on the front and rear axles represent a new evolutionary level of quattro drive – the electrified quattro. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Audi h-tron quattro concept
This concept provides a foretaste of the technologies for piloted driving and parking that will go into production in 2017, with the next generation of Audi’s A8 full-size sedan. Piloted driving at Audi revolves around the central driver assistance controller (zFAS), which computes a model of the car’s surroundings in real time and makes this information available to the assistance systems and the piloted driving and parking systems. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Porsche 911 Turbo S
Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept
Volkswagen, meanwhile, sees its Tiguan GTE Active Concept making its world debut at the 2016 NAIAS. The car’s most striking feature is its plug-in hybrid system which uses two electric motors and a gasoline engine. This five-seat concept is based on the fully redeveloped second-generation Tiguan. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
