2017 kicks off with an all-American line up of shows, starting with CES in Las Vegas and now NAIAS in Detroit. The halls open for the press days shortly but there have already been a few pre-show unveilings, details of which can be found below. We'll be adding to these as we go!
Matt is in Detroit and will be bringing all the PH-worthy news from the show floor, be that through standalone news stories or pictures and random thoughts via social media. Keep an eye on @PistonHeads, and @PHMattB on Twitter and @PistonHeads_Speedmatters on Instagram under the hashtag #PHDetroit17.
Here we'll gather together the overview of what's going on at the show and links to the individual stories as and when they come in - keep checking for regular updates!
Last update: Monday, 1730h
Audi
'An Audi in peak form' is what the Q8 concept has been described as. A plug-in hybrid it has a petrol 3.0-litre V6 mated to an electric motor with an overall range of 621 miles and a 630-litre boot. The design language is similar to what we had previously seen on the Audi Prologue concept and inside the virtual cockpit has been further evolved with stacks of controls converted to touch operated. On the other side of the stand, diesel is no longer on the lips of execs with the new SQ5 fitted with a petrol engine available Spring 2017. More details as and when.
The American market is an important one for the traditional European brands and their premium performance saloon cars, explaining why Kia's attack on BMW's heartland is making a Stateside debut. The
Stinger
is a rear-wheel drive saloon with the option of a 255hp four-cylinder turbo or 365hp twin-turbo V6 and comes packed with driver modes, adaptive dampers and 'proven at the Nurburgring' credentials. With the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia also in its sights it proves there's life in powerful rear-wheel drive saloons yet!
Mercedes-Benz
A few updates coming from Mercedes, the first of which being the facelifted GLA. A 360-degree camera, autonomous braking and hands-free boot opening are fitted to all the new GLA models. But at PH, the GLA45 and special 'Yellow Night Edition' are of more interest. The latter gaining 'matt graphite grey and yellow detailing' on either a cosmos black or night black paintwork with matt black wheels. No power upgrades for the facelift, more a restyling with changes to front bumper and intakes, rear diffuser and a new radiator grille. AMG has revealed the Edition 50 GT C marking 50 years of AMG and sitting between the GT S and GT R. Like the similarly positioned GT C Roadster it has 557hp. The Launch spec will be available in either matt white or matt black with wider arches, rear-wheel steer as standard and the rear track of the GT R, it looks good. The rest of the GT line up has updated grilles inspired by the GT3 race car with redesigned front bumpers and power is up to match the roadster equivalents.
For Porsche customers upset at not making the list for a GT3, an RS or an R the
new GTS
could be a consolation prize worth having. As per previous 911s to carry the badge it's basically a 'best of' compilation of trim and options in a widebody shell and topped off with a power boost to 450hp via new turbos. And you're not stuck for options either - manual or PDK, rear- or four-wheel drive, coupe, Cabriolet or Targa bodies and (hopefully) enough to go around if you've got the money to burn.
Volkswagen
Every couple of years VW teases us with a microbus concept harking back to the 50s. But this new I.D. Buzz concept looks the most likely to meet production on VW's new EV MEB platform and is due in 2020. It can seat eight passengers in multiple formats - face-to-face suites to beds and like most new EVs will come with autonomous mode whereby the steering wheel will slide in and out of the dashboard.
Best of the rest
Not strictly a Detroit car but Bentley is riding the wave of new product announcements to confirm its fastest accelerating road car ever, the new Continental Supersports. The familiar 6.0-litre W12 gets another boost and now pushes out 710hp, the Supersports good for 209mph and 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds. Like the performance the looks are best described as unapologetic...