Usually when I show up in the review vehicle of the week, friends and family freely express their opinions on the new model and I find these to mostly be favorable but sometimes polarized with love it/hate it reactions. Not so with the new 500L from Fiat where nearly everyone told me it was just flat out ugly.
As media days for the 2014 North American International Auto Show come to a close, Detroit prepares for the onslaught of visitors to the show that is boasting some 50 concept and new model debuts from automakers. Before the doors open to the public in Motor City Jan. 18-26 we bring you a photographic look at the rest of what was debuted this year.
Nissan is celebrating its 80th anniversary as it releases the Sport Sedan Concept at the North American International Auto Show, calling it a design study with a real emphasis on next-generation design and sporty style, embodying Nissan’s next-generation design signatures. The Sport Sedan Concept shares some common traits of recent concept vehicles and now brings them to a four-door design.
Honda unveiled the all-new 2015 Fit subcompact hatch at the North American International Auto Show. Arriving this spring, the new Fit is redesigned from the ground up offering more interior space in a stylish, fun to drive package with good fuel efficiency and state-of-the-art safety combined with vehicle connectivity, or, in Honda’s words, a small car with big aspirations.
Mercedes-Benz debuted several new models at the North American International Auto Show including an all-new longer and wider C-Class powered by turbo four- and six-cylinder engines, an AMG variant of the already announced 2015 GLA45 compact SUV, the Concept S-Class Coupe that seeks sensual clarity as an expression of modern luxury and the return of the iconic S600 uber-luxury sedan.
Just a few short hours after its Corvette Stingray was named North American Car of the Year, Chevrolet debuted the 2015 Corvette Z06 supercar that boasts track times faster than those of the 2013 ZR1. The new car features the all-new LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that will deliver 625hp and 635 lb. ft. torque.
The Chrysler Group, consisting of Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram, debuted the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 Sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It will be the first midsize sedan with a standard nine-speed automatic gearbox via new electronic rotary shift dial and offer an all-wheel-drive system with an automatic fully disconnecting rear axle.
Toyota started things off with a bang at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit by debuting its FT-1 sport car concept. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Calty design studio, FT-1 (which stands for the ultimate Future of Toyota apparently) continues a lineage that includes the 1978 Celica, Lexus SC400, Supra, FT-HS and LF-LC.
While it came as little surprise to us here at Gear Diary, the North American Car and Truck of the Year were announced as both being from the Chevrolet stable: The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado 1500, respectively. The winners were announced at a ceremony that kicked off the 2014 North American International Auto Show media days in Detroit.
The best-selling truck in the world has just gotten better. Today Ford is taking the wraps off its next-generation F-150 light duty pickup boasting it will be tougher, smarter and more capable than any before it. The 2015 F-150 is being unveiled at the North American International Auto Show with aspirations of setting the standard for the future of trucks.
The Open Automotive Alliance was announced this week as a partnership initially between Audi, GM, Google, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA to work together to advance integration of the Android platform into the automotive environment. The announcement boasts the OAA being dedicated to a common platform to drive innovation and make technology in the car safer and more intuitive.
Detroit is not the only venue that sees significant automotive announcements in January. Increasingly, automakers are using the global audiences at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to debut not only the latest in technology but the future of transportation as well. Case in point is Toyota’s FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) concept and prototype hydrogen test vehicle.
Another day at the CES show in Las Vegas and another round of announcements from automakers concerning the newest technology they are employing in current and future vehicles. AT&T has announced an agreement with Tesla, an all-electric vehicle manufacturer, to enable current and future models with high speed wireless connectivity in the form of 4G LTE.
It has been no secret that in recent years, Volvo has become a favorite brand of mine and the S60 sedan has been a car I have really enjoyed driving. To be fair, Volvo has usually delivered something in an R-Design package but recently I was able to test the entry midsize offering and was not disappointed.
General Motors is announcing technology news at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Select 2015 Chevrolet models will be rolling out with 4G LTE connectivity speeds via the vehicle’s OnStar system and, taking advantage of this new technology, infotainment personalization is being enhanced with the new Chevrolet AppShop accessible from the vehicle’s MyLink screen.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: “Last but not least,” or “We’ve saved the best for last.” Too late, I’m gonna tell you anyway. My last automotive review of calendar year 2013 was perhaps the most anticipated by not only myself but much of the world as well – the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe.
Earlier this year, the “hot rodders” over at the Street and Racing Technology group of Chrysler expanded its “Core SRT” strategy to Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 models. The Core program adds exclusive content to the performance versions of these vehicles, designed and built with the “back-to-basics” performance driving enthusiast in mind. Recently we tested the 300 SRT8 Core model.
The Buick Regal is the “fun-to-drive” sedan from the once-stoic automaker. Re-released for the 2011 model year, Regal has taken on a totally new persona with this iteration, one that harkens back to the mid-80s when a younger (in body and spirit) and more enthusiastic driver discovered just how well the words “Buick” and “Turbo” go together.
For nearly 75 years, Jeep has been not only one of the most capable vehicles in the world, it’s most recognized as well. The Jeep Wrangler is also one of the most-honored vehicles in the off-road spectrum, so what better way to spend nearly a week of icy winter weather than behind the wheel of the 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Ford marks the next chapter in the iconic Mustang story as the all-new 2015 Pony car makes its debut today. The new car marks 50 years of Mustang madness that has seen more than 9 million cars sold and thousands of appearances in film, television, music and video games and, according to Ford, the most-liked vehicle on Facebook.
Many of the reviews written around stately, premium sedans these days at one point or another use a reference to Buick including my review of the Hyundai Azera where I accused that Korean sedan of being so “Buicky.” Well, let’s take a look at the latest large car from General Motors’ premium brand in the form of the 2014 LaCrosse.