Detroit Motor Show 2019: round-up

Named interchangeably as either the “North American International Auto Show” (NAIAS) or the “Detroit Motor Show,” the event has been hosted by Detroit every year since 1987. Many of the models shown this year were geared towards the American market, but there were a handful of inclusions which will either make their way to the UK, or had relevance to future UK models.

• Detroit Motor Show 2018: key cars

The pre-show press days for the 2019 Detroit Motor Show now have ended, and the event is now open to the public until the 27th of January. So, we’ve finished our rounds of the manufacturer’s stalls and cherry-picked the biggest cars from this year’s show. Read on below for a rundown...

Cadillac

Cadillac revealed two new SUVs ahead of the first full Detroit press day. The XT6 debuted as a new three-row SUV sitting between the firm's flagship Escalade and XT5 crossover, but the big news is the reveal of an as yet unnamed electric SUV concept, pictured above.

Due to enter production by 2021, it will be the first General Motors vehicle to use the group's forthcoming BEV3 platform for electric vehicles. GM is lining up Cadillac as a launch-pad for the American group's electric ambitions, with more BEV3 based Cadillacs due for the US market in the next few years.

Ford

Ford unveiled a new Shelby GT500 at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. In November 2018, the American company released an image of the new GT500’s engine bay, which featured a large supercharger. It was stamped with a plaque dated January 14 2019, which just so happened coincide with the first press day of the 2019 Detroit Motor Show.

Official performance figures are yet to be announced, but Ford claims power will be in excess of 700bhp, 0-62mph will take around three seconds and the quarter mile will be dispatched in under 11 seconds. This means the new GT500 will be competing with the 707bhp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the 755bhp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in the American horsepower war.

Infiniti

Infiniti revealed its new all-electric SUV concept, called the QX Inspiration, for the first time in Detroit. It previewed the company’s upcoming Jaguar I-Pace rival, heralding Infiniti’s impending electric car offensive which will see either hybrid or all-electric variants offered across the Japanese company’s entire range by 2021.

The concept followed the design style of the Infiniti Q Inspiration saloon, with slim LED headlights, a blanked off grille, a spacious “hand crafted” interior and a wrap-around windscreen. No official release date for the production model has been announced yet, but we expect it to hit showrooms by the end of 2020.

Lexus

Lexus’s new RC F stormed into Detroit this year, along with its bewinged, lightened “Track Edition” sibling. Thanks to more stringent emissions regulations, however, both models suffered a reduction in horsepower over the outgoing RC F.

The facelifted RC F still uses a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, but power has dropped to 451bhp, to meet the demands the WLTP emissions tests. To balance out the deficit, weight was also reduced and the car's gearing was been reconfigured, to ensure performance remained the same with a 4.5 second 0-62mph time. Minor styling updates round off the BMW M4 rival's updates.

Nissan

It seems that Audi and BMW aren't the only manufacturers good at creating niche sectors, as Nissan created a whole new sector at Detroit with its “elevated sports sedan” IMs concept. The electric all-wheel-drive, crossover-inspired saloon is driven by two electric motors which produce a claimed 476bhp and 800Nm of torque, whilst being good for a claimed 380 mile range.

The interior was really where the IMs concept shines though, as it features a unique “2+1+2” configuration and a very futuristic "interior sensing platform” which uses cameras and sensors to monitor the driver’s face and posture to determine whether they’re fit enough to drive.

Subaru

Following in the wake of the previous generation WRX STi S208, Subaru released the new WRX STi S209 at the 2019 North American Auto Show. The new model features four wheel drive, a lairy bodykit and a turbocharged flat-four engine. With 336bhp, it debuted as the most powerful STI-badged model ever built.

Toyota

Quite possibly the star of this year’s show, the new Toyota Supra finally made its debut at Detroit. Despite the hype, we already knew what the car would look like thanks to a series of leaked press photos. The performance coupe will go on sale in the first half of this year, with prices starting at £52,695.

Powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, the new Toyota Supra produces 335bhp and 470Nm of torque, which is good enough for a 0-62mph sprint of 4.3 seconds. A 50:50 weight distribution, capable chassis and powerful brakes also promise good handling, as our recent drive of a Supra prototype revealed.

Which was the star car at this year's 2019 Detroit Motor Show? Let us know your thoughts below...