The Show
The first Auto show took place in Detroit in 1907 at Riverside Park and, except between 1943 and 1952, has run annually ever since. In 1965, the event made the move to the Cobo Centre in the Metro Detroit area, where it occupies almost 1 million square feet of floor space. The location for the event is particularly important, as it's also in the area of company headquarters belonging to Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. From 1989, the event has been the "North American International Auto Show" (NAIAS) , moving away from its original regional scope.
Prior to the main event, a preview show is held in aid of local children’s charities. With tickets generally costing in the region of $400, the annual event brings in millions of dollars for great local causes. The 2014 show has raised an incredible $4.8 million, which will be split between nine children’s charities.
This year's event lasts until the 26th January, and has already played host to 50 vehicle debuts, 500 vehicles and 5000 journalists. Let's take a look at some of the highlights.
New Ford F-150
Ford are back with a revamped and re-designed version of their F-150 truck at the Detroit Motor Show, in the city where it all started for Ford. The F-150 has been in continuous production for the past 66 years and sold so many in 2013 that, if each truck were to be parked end to end, they’d stretch across the entire USA. Without moving too far away from the best-seller, Ford have introduced a few key changes to modernise the American favourite, including shedding 700lbs from the previous design, and using a combination of (95%) military-grade aluminium and high strength steel to maintain a tough exterior whilst providing a lighter chassis. They've also introduced a 2.7 litre turbo-charged Ford EcoBoost engine to the F-150, which will provide 320bhp combined with fuel saving Start/Stop technology. The truck even has telescoping ramps contained in the cargo box walls that can be used to load heavy cargo, including garden tractors and quad bikes.
Toyota FT-1
The Toyota FT-1 has made a grand appearance at the Detroit Motor Show. The concept sports car is a real-life version of the one designed for the video game franchise ‘Gran Turismo’. The sporty new Toyota has generated a lot of buzz in Motor City, as Toyota seeks to show their muscle in the performance vehicle market alongside their strong standing in the continued growth of Hybrid technology. With the abbreviation ‘FT’ standing for ‘Future Toyota’, sports car fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating what the future holds for Toyota in the performance car market. The Toyota comes packed with a number of striking features including:
- Formula 1 style steering wheel
- Bugatti styled rear wing
- Formula 1 style pointed nose
- Fighter Jet inspired head up display
- Distinctive three-element LED headlights
Inspirational Design
Designers at Calty Design Research were responsible for the design of the concept car, and were delighted to be able to showcase their creation as a real life concept outside of the video game world. Alex Shen, Calty’s Studio Chief Designer, stated:
“Our team was heavily influenced by Toyota’s sports car past, especially Celica and Supra, and we sought to capture some of that history. It is an aggressive, track-focused sports car concept with a presence that has been amplified for shock and awe.”
One for the Future?
The FT-1 has generated a lot of talk over the exciting future of Toyota in the performance vehicle market, and sparked rumours of a new Toyota Supra or Celica model to come down the line. Although the FT-1 itself may not be appearing in a showroom any time soon, the future certainly looks very exciting for those seeking a sporty thrill from a new Toyota masterpiece.
Audi Allroad
Many are touting the Audi Allroad shooting brake concept car as a very real preview of how the new version of the legendary Audi TT will take shape. Although Audi previewed a very similar ‘Shooting Brake’ concept nine years ago and failed to take it to production, the new Allroad, says Audi, provides "very concrete glimpses of the near future."
Power and Performance
Under the bonnet, Audi have showcased a snapshot of the future with a combination of advanced electronic technology and good old-fashioned power in their hybrid e-tron transmission. The Allroad combines a fairly modest 2.0 litre petrol engine with twin electric motors built into the double clutch transmission. According to Audi, at full system power in sport mode, the Allroad will produce 402bhp with the ability to hit 62mph in 4.6 secs and a potential top speed of 155mph. The beauty of the hybrid technology means that alongside this potential power, the car has an official CO2 rating of 45g/km and an official average consumption of 123.8mpg.
Key Features
- 12.3-inch TFT display screen
- 19 inch wheels
- Panels constructed from a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre
- Can travel 510 miles on a full tank with full charge
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of AUDI AG, Technical Development gave a very strong hint that the Allroad is a preview of the new TT model, stating: “We are offering very concrete glimpses of the near future in this show car."
Other highlights from the show
Kelly Rowland performed at the launch of the Mercedes-Benz C Class, Volkswagen have showcased a Beetle Dune concept (that won't stay a concept for much longer), and there was a massive buzz around the new CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra - journalists have been falling over themselves to speak to the first ever female boss of a global carmaker.
The future of motoring
So what does all this mean for the UK car market? Well, Ford has implied that aluminium will be used more frequently in the manufacture of SUVs, and other vehicles, making them lighter and more fuel efficient. We've had a glimpse at the future of Toyota sports cars, highlighting the manufacturers' focus on the "ownership experience". And we think we know what the next Audi TT will look like.