Tag Archives: Detroit Auto Show
3 Things You Need To Know About The 2018 Kia Stinger
During the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, Kia unveiled its 2018 Stinger. Not to be mistaken for the K900, the Stinger is much sleeker and sportier. There are no pricing details for the Stinger, but we’ll expect more details in the coming weeks.
Here are the three things we know about the auto so far based from a report:
1. It Is Getting Two Gasoline Options
In the United States, there are two gasoline options. In Europe, a diesel option may be made available. The decision to bring a diesel option to Europe is purely market based. Sorry, American buyers, the diesel option is not going to be brought to your shores.
The range-topping model is going to be the 3.3-liter V-6 engine that produces 365 horsepower, though there is also the entry-level engine—a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that churns out 255 horsepower. Standard to both models is the eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers will be able to choose between an all-wheel and a rear-wheel drive.
2. The Design Is Aggressive
The Stinger is not prototype Kia. At first glance, it might even look like an Alfa Romeo. The “tiger nose” grille was not the one that separates the Stinger from other sedans in the market. It’s that low stance and muscular proportions that effectively distinguishes this model from anything that Kia made before.
With 190.2 inches of length, it is 4.1 inches longer than one of its competitors, the Audi A4, and it is 5.7 inches longer than the Mercedes Benz C-Class. It also has an 114.4-inch wheelbase, which is longer than any of its competitors.
3. Generous Equipment Should Be Expected
The cabin is home to a number of technologies available in the South Korean market. It has a wireless device charging station, navigation, and 7.0-inch touchscreen. Safety features for the drivers include adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and a head-up display. For music lovers out there, you can opt for the Harman/Kardon audio system that has 15 speakers and subwoofers beneath the front seat.
5 Things We Noticed About The 2018 Toyota Camry Introduced In Detroit
The 2017 Detroit Auto Show is where Toyota finally unveiled its redesigned 2018 Camry. Being the only sedan that maintained huge sales in the American market, the Toyota Camry has always been impressive.
Now that it has been redesigned for innovativeness and style, we can only imagine how the Camry will once again come on top of sedan sales.
1. Dimensions
Curiously enough, Toyota made the Camry 0.7 inch wider with the wheelbase two inches longer, and the roof and hood height lowered by one and 1.6 inches, respectively. The front and rear hip points have also been lowered, giving the new Camry a sportier look than its predecessor. Inside, even the dashboard has been lowered significantly to maintain visibility.
2. Driving Dynamics
To provide better driving experience, the new Camry has been bolstered, something that the Japanese automaker already did for the model during its mid-cycle refresh back in 2015. There’s a new double-wishbone suspension and four-point engine that reduce noise, vibration, and harshness.
Toyota swore that drivers will notice the improved dynamics the moment they sit on the driver’s seat.
3. Powertrains
The vast majority in the lineup will get the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder “Dynamic Force Engine.” Compared to the current model with a 2.5-liter engine as well that produces 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, the new Camry is slated to be more powerful. It will also be competitive in terms of fuel economy.
There are two other powertrains: the 3.5-liter V-6 to be shared with the Highlander and Sienna and the Hybrid. Options for the V-6 include a four- or six-cylinder paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Camry Hybrid has the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a revised CVT that features a new Sport mode with simulated six gears.
4. Interior
The new Camry has these features: 7-inch gauge display, a 10-inch Head-Up Display, and a center stack controls with the latest Entune 3.0 touchscreen.
5. Pricing
There are no pricing details yet, but let’s wait and see if we’ll get something out of its introduction at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. The new Toyota Camry is expected to start its deliverables in late summer 2017.
Photos
Check out the photos of the new Camry in the gallery below:
3 Things To Know About The Mid-Cycle Refresh For The 2018 Ford F-150
The 2017 Detroit Auto Show is just around the corner, which means we’ll get to see a slew of new cars and updates on our favorite trucks and sedans. The Ford F-150 is expected to receive a mid-cycle refresh for the 2018 model year. We don’t have much information about it, but the upcoming auto show seems to be the perfect place for a launch.
Front Exterior
Recent spy shots of the Ford F-150 showed a new two-bar grille that remind us of the grille on the 2017 F-Series Super Duty. Don’t get us wrong, you will not be confused between these two. In fact, they are similar but barely interchangeable. What is clear is that the one on the Super Duty is more square-ish than what were snapped on the new F-150. They are also more evenly spaced, but the resemblance is still there.
The headlights have the same general bracket shape, though these have been redesigned to conform with the two grille bars.
Back Exterior
The changes on the 2018 F-150 are less obvious at the back. Compared to the current F-150, the tailgate looks smoother on this one. If you have the current production F-150, you can check out the creases there. Those are gone on this redesigned model. The handles have also been redesigned completely. The spy shots did not show the bumper and the taillights because they are covered.
From our experience, that means that there are changes on these parts. After all, Ford wouldn’t take the time to cover these up if they are just going to retain their designs from the current F-150.
Hybrid Version
There are reports that a hybrid version is available for this light pickup come 2018. There are definitely plans to do that, but whether or not they are already working on it remains to be seen. There are also rumors that the truck will have a diesel engine option.
2016 Ford GT Le Mans To Make Track Debut At Daytona
The 2016 Ford GT Le Mans race car is set to make its debut on the race track at the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona before finally running the full schedule at the FIA World Endurance Championship and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
It can be remembered that the iconic Blue Oval officially made its return at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show after nearly a decade. This marks the car’s entrance to the race track family again.
Outside, the Ford GT is easily recognizable as a GT in racing apparel, though it had extensive body modifications for maximum downforce and minimum drag. The front end, in particular, has little resemblance to the good old GT, except for the vented hood and trapezoidal grille.
The bumper is less intricate in styling and has a massive splitter. It also sports a pair of new headlamps that are shaped slightly different from the standard car.
Although Ford decided to keep the standard design for the sides, it added larger side skirts that can now handle exhaust outlets toward the rear wheels—four race-spec, ultra-lightweight rims wrapped around Michelin tires.
There are plenty of changes at the back, but these are mainly the flat spoiler and the rear bumper. The GT’s rear end is the most aggressive of any LM GTE cars, reports said.
Of course, the car is dressed in the American flag’s colors with the “24 Hours of Le Mans” racing number stickers.
Inside, it is way too loaded for a race car, although most of the gears are essential for racing. The multifunction, racing steering wheel, however, will be in front of a much simpler instrument cluster.
The Ford GT race car will make use of a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine used already on its IMSA Daytona Prototype endurance racer. This engine can produce about 500 horsepower, though this would depend on the final weight of the racer.
Capping off the drivetrain is a seven-speed, dual-clutch transaxle, which will allow the GT to reach top speeds in excess of 200mph. It can also go 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds.
Photos via TopSpeed
FJ Cruiser To End Production This August
Toyota has just confirmed it will end the production of the retro-inspired FJ Cruiser this August. This is a sad news for the handful of markets that still manage to get their claws on the two-door SUV.
If you can remember, the FJ Cruiser was first introduced at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show as an off-roader inspired by Toyota’s cult classic FJ40 Land Cruiser.
Toyota has already pulled out the FJ Cruiser from North American markets about two years ago. But its sales have continued in markets that favor rugged-type SUVs such as Japan, China, Australia and the Middle East, among others.
In the United States and Canada, Toyota decided to focus on its four-door 4Runner, which has surprisingly been popular among North American consumers. The current 4Runner was launched in 2009, but it was updated for the 2014 model.
Both models, the FJ Cruiser and the 4Runner, share most of the designs and performance features—running gear and their body on-frame construction. However, they are assembled in different plants.
In most markets, the two models are priced very close to each other. But in the US, the 4Runner is generally a bit more expensive than the FJ Cruiser.
Usually, when Toyota stops a production for a car model, it first creates a special edition—kind of like a souvenir for that particular model’s fans. In particular, it did that for the high-feature Ultimate Edition offered to American consumers in 2014 before the SUV closed its market.
For the FJ Cruiser, the company has yet to announce any such plans. Of course, how ironic was it that car enthusiasts are mourning the end of the FJ’s production when it didn’t receive that much love when it was first launched.
Remember, we used to think it was a bit on the unsightly side until Toyota made some improvements on it designs?