Tuesday, January 13, 2015YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The announcement that the Golf GTI had won the North American Car of the Year award early Monday was just the start of Volkswagen's day. Hours later at its press event at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the German company showed off the Cross Coupe GTE concept, a V6 plug-in hybrid that will be built in Chattanooga, Tenn., beginning in 2016.
“Numerous details hint at how we envision a future production SUV model for North America,” said Klaus Bischoff, chief designer at Volkswagen. “The underlying concept combines German engineering and design with a vehicle that suits the American lifestyle.”
While the model displayed in Detroit seats five, the model that built in Tennessee will have room for seven people. The SUV can be switched into an off-road mode, which turns on four-wheel drive and uses the car battery to power the transmission. The battery can also be manually put into charge and hold modes, a press release said.
Also at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, Mercedes-Benz announced that two new lines will be added to its C-class models: the 450 AMG and the 350 plug-in hybrid.
The new 450 features an AMG suspension and engine and four-wheel drive. AMG is the performance division of Mercedes that designs and manufactures vehicles separately from its parent company.
The C-Class plug-in hybrid has a battery-only range of 18.6 miles and a 279-horsepower engine. That model will hit showrooms this fall.
Ola Kallenius, a member of the board of Daimler AG, which owns Mercedes, also announced the release of the GLE, the company's new SUV that will be featured in the upcoming Jurassic World movie.
“It's a sporty coupe with SUV genes,” he said, noting that, aesthetically, the GLE looks like a car, but the engine and suspension are in line with what would be found on an SUV.
Fellow German automaker BMW showed off an upgraded 6 series, which will be sent to dealerships in the coming months. The 6 series is available as the four-door Gran Coupe, a convertible, and the power-focused M6.
“These are clearly the sportiest and most luxurious vehicles we have ever built,” said BMW board member Ian Robertson, who also announced that worldwide sales of BMW topped two million for the first time in the history of the company.
Robertson also revealed plans for a consultation program that will put car-buyers in contact with the builders, allowing every customer to design a car unique to him.
Wrapping up the German companies was Porsche releasing the 911 Targa 4 GTS, aimed at filling the gap between the standard 911 coupe and the performance-based 911 GT3. Porsche also announced two new versions of its popular Cayenne SUVs, the Platinum Edition and Diesel Platinum Edition, both coming with top-level features standard and a special metallic paint color.
For Asian manufacturers, the theme of the day was trucks as Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai introduced either redesigned or new truck models.
Nissan showed off the new Titan pickup, which CEO Carlos Ghosn called “a key part of our growth strategy.”
The Titan seeks to fill “unmet needs” of American consumers by offering the only eight-cylinder engine in the light-duty truck market and a frame used also by Nissan's commercial van line. The engine, built in Indiana, comes in at 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, good for hauling a maximum of 2,000 pounds and towing up to 12,000 pounds.
“It fills in the white space in the market," Ghosn said at the press event, streamed live on the Internet.
Many options will be available when the truck comes to dealerships, with two engines -- a V6 is also available -- three cabin sizes, three bed sizes and two body lengths available.
Starting off the round of press conferences Monday afternoon, Toyota showed off the 2016 Tacoma pickup truck with a new frame, suspension and a new option for an Atkinson Cycle V6 engine, which will lead to better fuel economy, according to Toyota Vice President Bill Fay.
“This truck is a bad ass. Every time I see it, I want to get in and go on a new adventure,” Fay declared. “[The Tacoma] is all about recreational action and athletic agility.”
Like the current Tacoma model, a special Toyota Racing Development off-road version will be available, featuring a power outlet in the bed, terrain select, specially made off-road tires and a Go-Pro mount on top of the cabin, all coming standard.
Hyundai showed off the new Santa Cruz pickup concept, the Korean company's first foray into the truck market in the United States. It’s aimed at what director of corporate planning Mark Ditko dubbed “urban adventurers.
“When we set out to design the Santa Cruz, we didn't want to cover the same ground [as other manufacturers],” he said. “Santa Cruz is intended for the people who seize and pursue the world differently.”
The Santa Cruz is aimed at truck-buyers under 30 who need pickup capabilities, but not necessarily a pickup truck, he continued, calling the concept a crossover truck. It features an extendable truck bed, extra tie-down hooks in the wheel wells and seating for up to five.
Hyundai also announced the expansion of its Sonata hybrid line with the addition of the company's first plug-in hybrid.
“In this newest phase of eco-development, we're changing the paradigm and creating vehicles that are as fun and rewarding to drive as they are efficient,” said Mike O'Brien, director of corporate and product planning for Hyundai. “The new Sonata hybrid is more refined, roomier, quieter and more luxurious than its predecessor.”
O'Brien added that the Sonata hybrid can be driven 22 miles on the battery alone – the highest range in the industry – and gets 44 miles per gallon -- an increase from 40 in the current hybrid model -- with a 13% increase in power.
The conference where many jaws dropped was at Acura, whose sole car on display was the re-introduced NSX. It had been in limbo since 2007 when Acura announced it as a concept.
The original line was produced as a Honda, parent of Acura, from 1990 to 2005. Potential buyers can start ordering their cars this summer.
The NSX will have a hybrid twin turbo V6 engine that produces 550 horsepower. A dial is featured on the console that allows drivers to switch among various driving modes, including “quiet,” to reduce engine noise.
It stunned the biggest name in the audience, Jerry Seinfeld, who did a Super Bowl commercial for the car in 2012.
“It's always exciting to see a brand-new car that's never existed before from the ground up,” the comedian said. “I've never seen a car introduced like this. It's great.”
Pictured: Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup concept vehicle.
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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