COBO Center in downtown Detroit has been our playground of sorts as we covered the latest news from the North American International Auto Show.
More than 50 vehicle introductions were made at the event and out of all these, we narrowed it down to the five most significant debuts. Don’t miss our video at the end of this post!
2017 Infiniti Q60
Starting things off is the gorgeous new Infiniti Q60. This lovely looking coupe features a wide range of turbocharged engines. The base unit is a 2.0-liter four-banger with 208 horses, but the most muscular powertrain option is a 3.0-liter V6 that belts out 400 ponies and 350 lb-ft of torque. Rear- and all-wheel drive are available, but just one transmission is on the menu: a seven-speed automatic.
2017 Honda Ridgeline
But let’s be honest, coupes aren’t that all that practical. If you want a vehicle that can haul more junk than a shoebox worth of trinkets, the new Honda Ridgeline could be for you. Like its predecessor, the all-new 2017 model rides atop a car-based architecture, features an innovative dual-hinged tailgate and once again has a hidden trunk in the bed. A 3.5-liter V6 will provide the motivation and is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Acura Precision Concept
Next up, looking at Acura’s Precision Concept is like gazing into a crystal ball, quite literally! This shimmering red design study shows us what future Acura vehicles could look like, with a long dash-to-axle ratio, aggressively sculpted fenders and new Diamond Pentagon grille, which is a new styling signature for the brand. Overall, we love what we see with this car.
Complete 2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
2018 Lexus LC 500
Another crimson beauty that made its global debut in Motown this week is the Lexus LC 500, a production version of the brand’s bodacious LF-LC concept that was unveiled back in 2012. Built atop an all-new rear-wheel-drive architecture that incorporates carbon fiber, aluminum and high-strength steel, it has the stiffest structure Lexus has ever built, more so than the LFA supercar! A familiar 5.0-liter V8 delivers 467 horses, and fully loaded LC 500 should cost less than $100,000.
Buick Avista Concept
But the biggest news of the show, the one car that surprised us more than any other is the Buick Avista concept, a rear-wheel-drive coupe, and a dark-blue stunner that took our collective breath away. Paying homage to the glorious Grand Nationals of yore, it features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that delivers 400 horses. Twenty one-inch wheels complete the look.
You know, the tri-shield brand has been running commercials recently where incredulous drivers declare “That’s not a Buick!” And with the Avista, they’re right. It’s basically a Chevy Camaro with swoopy bodywork and we LOVE IT!
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