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Big
Trucks/SUVs
and
Performance
Cars
Dominate
at NAIAS
2019
naias.com
DETROIT
- Big,
brawny
pickups
along
with
super-fast,
performance
cars
dominated
the
NAIAS on
Monday
as
automakers
pulled
out all
the
stops in
the
never-ending
battle
for
consumer
attention
in the
ultra-competitive
auto
industry.
Ford’s
all-new
2020
Mustang
Shelby
GT500
was
first
out of
the gate
on
Monday
with a
supercharged
5.2-liter
V8
engine
that
produces
more
than 700
horsepower
– enough
to
launch
the car
from 0
to 60
miles
per hour
in just
over
three
seconds.
Not
to be
outdone,
Toyota
President
Akio
Toyoda
declared,
“Supra
is back!
Better
than
ever!”
as he
revealed
an
all-new
fifth-generation
Supra
that
resurrects
the
nameplate
for the
first
time
since it
was
phased
out in
2002.
Toyota
says
Supra’s
3.0-liter
twin-scroll
turbo
six will
produce
335
horsepower
and 365
pound-feet
of
torque.
Lexus,
which
debuted
as a
brand at
NAIAS 30
years
ago,
introduced
the 2020
Lexus RC
F and RC
F Track.
The
Track
Edition
joins
the
standard
Lexus RC
F
performance
coupe
which
has been
extensively
updated
for the
2020
model
year.
Improved
aerodynamics,
reduced
weight,
a
retuned
suspension
and
enhanced
styling
elevate
the RC F
to a new
level of
performance
and
refinement.
Subaru
said it
will
bring
one of
its “S”
models
to the
U.S. for
the
first
time.
Subaru
Tecnica
International
(STI), a
wholly
owned
subsidiary
of
Subaru
Corporation,
revealed
the
limited-edition
STI S209
– the
car will
be the
most
powerful
model
the
Japanese
automaker
has ever
offered
U.S.
buyers.
It will
be
powered
by a
341-horsepower,
2.5-liter
Subaru
Boxer
engine.
Performance
numbers
were
also on
display
with the
trucks
and SUVs
that
automakers
revealed.
Ram
unveiled
a
heavy-duty
version
of its
pickup
with a
towing
capacity
of
35,100
pounds
and a
payload
capacity
of 7,680
pounds.
When
equipped
with a
Cummins
6.7-liter
I-6
Turbo
Diesel
engine,
the 2019
Ram
heavy-duty
3500
pickup
arriving
soon at
dealerships
generates
an
industry
first
1,000
pound-feet
of
torque.
Ram also
unveiled
Laramie
Black
and
Power
Wagon
versions
of its
heavy-duty
truck.
Kia
revealed
the
Telluride
SUV –
the
largest
vehicle
ever
produced
by the
Korea
automaker.
The
Telluride
provides
comfortable
seating
for up
to eight
occupants
and is
powered
by a
291-hp
3.8-liter
V6.
Telluride
is the
first
Kia
designed
specifically
for the
U.S. and
is a
product
of the
Kia
Design
Center
in
Irvine,
Calif.
Volkswagen
unveiled
its new
2020
Passat
eight
years
after
introducing
the
first
American-made
version
of the
sedan.
Volkswagen
said its
new
Passat
has a
bolder
design,
upgraded
technology,
and
enhanced
access
to
convenience
and
driver-assistance
features.
Infiniti
debuted
the QX
Inspiration
– a
mid-sized
SUV
concept
that
serves
as a
precursor
to the
brand’s
first
fully-electric
vehicle.
Infiniti
is in
the
process
of
electrifying
its
entire
vehicle
lineup
by 2021
and the
brand
said the
QX
Inspiration
concept
signals
a new
era for
Infiniti
design.
The
QX
Inspiration
was the
second
concept
all-electric
vehicle
revealed
at the
show.
Cadillac
surprised
journalists
Sunday
night
when it
showed
renderings
of an
all-electric
crossover.
Dubbed
“Cadillac
EV,” the
brand
said the
vehicle
will be
the
first
model
derived
from
GM’s
future
EV
platform.
The
Cadillac
EV’s
actual
name and
additional
details
will be
revealed
closer
to
launch,
the
company
said.
Cadillac
executives
also
hinted
at both
a future
Escalade
and an
upcoming
performance
sedan.
Nissan
on
Monday
unveiled
its IMs
Intelligent
Mobility
– a
sedan
concept
vehicle
that
anticipates
the
future
of
electric
power,
automated
driving
and
performance
vehicles
in a
single
model.
The IMs
comprises
“a
complete
reinterpretation
of the
electric
car in a
sports
sedan,”
said
Denis
LeVot,
chairman
of
Nissan
North
America.
“It’s
the
future
of
electric
vehicles.”
Hyundai
announced
a new,
sporty
trim
line for
the
Elantra
GT
called
the N
Line and
announced
a
payment
relief
program
aimed at
helping
federal
employees
furloughed
during
the
government
shutdown.
GAC
Motor
introduced
a
three-row,
seven-seat
concept
vehicle
called
the
Entranze
EV. It
is the
first
concept
vehicle
designed
in the
United
States
by GAC.
The
Entranze
is an
SUV with
glass
sliding
doors
and a
three-passenger
front
seat.
Monday
ended
with the
Automotive
Hall of
Fame
announcing
its 2019
class of
inductees
that
will be
honored
in July.
They
will
include:
•
Richard
E. Dauch,
who
worked
at
Chevrolet,
Chrysler,
and
Volkswagen
before
retiring
to found
American
Axle and
Manufacturing.
• Janet
Guthrie,
a
pioneer
in the
field of
auto
racing.
•
Patrick
Ryan,
known
for
effectively
establishing
the
finance
and
insurance
business
in the
automotive
dealership
industry.
• Sergio
Marchionne,
former
CEO and
Chairman
of Fiat
Chrysler
Automobiles
who died
unexpectedly
last
year.
NAIAS’
Press
Preview
will
continue
on
Tuesday
with
news
from
several
major
auto
suppliers
and will
pivot to
panel
discussions
at
AutoMobili-D.
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