{"id":21691,"date":"2018-01-11T15:53:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-11T19:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=21691"},"modified":"2018-01-11T15:53:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-11T19:53:32","slug":"2017-detroit-auto-show-top-10-where-are-they-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2018\/01\/2017-detroit-auto-show-top-10-where-are-they-now","title":{"rendered":"2017 Detroit auto show Top 10: Where are they now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weekend Detroit kicks off the 2018 auto show season with a bumper crop of rookie talent. We\u2019ll be treated to new pickups, new EVs, new concepts \u2014 all vying for Detroit News Ten Best in Show.<\/p>\n

But what of last year\u2019s frosh wonders?<\/p>\n

Did they live up to their promise? Did the Kia Stinger drive as good as it looked? Did the Honda Odyssey minivan dethrone King Chrysler Pacifica? Would Camry get trampled in America\u2019s stampede to SUVs?<\/p>\n

\n

Herewith a look at the 2017 Ten Best in Show and how they are doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Kia<\/p>\n

Kia Stinger<\/strong><\/p>\n

A performance sedan developed on the famous Nurburgring race track. From Kia. You\u2019re kidding, right? Nope. The Korean econobox-maker hired Audi designer Peter Schreyer and BMW M-division engineer Albert Biermann to redefine the brand with an all-wheel drive, turbo V-6, Audi A7 lookalike priced like a Dodge Charger. The sleek Stinger\u00a0wowed media testers last fall<\/a>\u00a0at its California proving grounds. Kia offered us a Porsche Panamera, Audi A7 and A5 to test it against. That\u2019s confidence. The sportback held its own and then some. It\u2019s one of the favorites for 2018 North American Car of the Year.<\/p>\n

\"Audi<\/p>\n

Audi Q8<\/strong><\/p>\n

The bold Q8 SUV is expected in production form later this year, but the concept gave us plenty to digest. The Q8 is Q7\u2019s doppelganger with a coupe-like roof (more sex appeal, less headroom) aimed at similar ute coupes from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It\u2019s also the template for Audi\u2019s new design direction as seen on the fresh A8 sedan at November\u2019s LA Auto Show. Echoing the Q8, the A8 has more high-definition interior screens than a sports bar \u2014 and a continuous, LED taillight across the trunk.<\/p>\n

\"VolvoAmericans prefer the taller, five-door V90\" \/><\/p>\n

Volvo V90<\/strong><\/p>\n

The wagon is dead, long live the wagon. A big reason for America\u2019s SUV preference is the security that an elevated seating position gives drivers. So Volvo markets the five-door version of its S90 sedan by jacking it up 2.3 inches and giving it a rugged ute-name: V90 Cross Country. But for those who value aesthetics, the V90 is available by dealer special order in wagon form. It sold an exclusive 176 units in 2017 (less than a tenth of the Cross Country), but with its long wheelbase, flowing lines and rich Scandinavian interior, it is a rolling sculpture.<\/p>\n

\"HondaThe best-selling Chrysler Pacifica and\" \/><\/p>\n

Honda Odyssey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Odyssey\u2019s quirky exterior can\u2019t compete with the Pacifica head-turner, but young families may find the Honda more appealing. The best-selling Fiat Chrysler minivans (Pacifica and sibling Dodge Caravan) wow with removable Stow\u2019n\u2019Go second- and third-row seats. Odyssey makes its pitch with a \u201cMagic Slide\u201d middle seat that moves tantrum-prone toddlers closer to the driver for needed attention \u2014 and a third-row microphone system for better communication.<\/p>\n

\"VolkswagenAfter years of alienating Yanks\" \/><\/p>\n

Volkswagen Tiguan<\/strong><\/p>\n

After years of alienating Yanks with too-small utes and too-much Dieselgate, VW is back to win our hearts with the Americanized Tiggy. The compact SUV makes its case with a supersized interior, handsome exterior and tech galore. VW motorheads looking for a nimble SUV should look elsewhere \u2014 this V-dub puts on the pounds with a third-row seat option and storage space aplenty. That\u2019s more utility than a comparable Audi Q5 for 15 grand less.<\/p>\n

\"GMCThe upscale Terrain is loaded with innovation\" \/><\/p>\n

GMC Terrain<\/strong><\/p>\n

GMC joins VW and Mazda with an upscale, compact ute \u2014 and accompanying $1,500 price jump. Shedding its blocky truck lines for a more stylish wardrobe,\u00a0the Terrain\u2019s<\/a>sculpted grille and boomerang taillights telegraph a small SUV with big ambitions. Terrain is loaded with innovation from its electronic \u201ctrigger\u201d shifter to its Japanese-inspired \u201cfloating roof\u201d to a terrific, nine-speed tranny. What\u2019s most surprising is GMC\u2019s 350-pound diet and toned chassis make it one of the best utes to flog on a twisty road.<\/p>\n

\"FordJust two years after its aluminum-skin\" \/><\/p>\n

Ford F-150<\/strong><\/p>\n

America\u2019s best-seller isn\u2019t resting on its laurels. Just two years after its aluminum-skin transformation, the high-tech F-series keeps raising the bar with a redesigned \u201cdouble I-beam\u201d grille, Wi-Fi hot-spot (up to 10 devices for your big tailgate party), 10-speed transmission, semi-autonomous trailer backup-assist, and more engine choices. Like the first-ever F-150 diesel. Nearly 900,000 F-series sold last year.<\/p>\n

\"ToyotaThe \u201818 model is Toyota\u2019s best-looking,\" \/><\/p>\n

Toyota Camry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chairman Akio Toyoda\u2019s made good on his promise of a \u201creally sexy\u201d Camry. The 2018 model is Toyota\u2019s best-looking, best-handling, most ergonomically satisfying sedan yet. Trouble is, Camry must overcome two formidable competitors \u2014 the all-new Honda Accord, which is even better; and the Toyota RAV4, which dethroned King Camry as the best-selling non-pickup in America for the first time in 15 years.<\/p>\n

\"NissanThe V-motion showed off futuristic\" \/><\/p>\n

Nissan Vmotion Concept<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rogue SUV flew off dealer lots in 2017 as Nissan fed our thirst for all things ute with the Rogue Sport, and … what were we talking about? Oh, yes, a sedan concept. The V-motion. Its futuristic cabinet doors and semi-autonomous features aside, Vmotion previewed the lines of camouflaged 2019 Altimas seen in spy shots.<\/p>\n

\"DodgeJust after the GT debuted in Detroit,\" \/><\/p>\n

Dodge Challenger GT<\/strong><\/p>\n

The what? Just after the GT debuted in Detroit, the breathless countdown began to the New York Auto Show\u2019s April premiere of the 840-horsepower Dodge Demon. Demon didn\u2019t disappoint with its unmatched quarter-mile numbers and unholy, supercharged shriek. But for Dodge shoppers looking for a practical, all-season, all-wheel drive Challenger, the GT is it. Just wish it came in a V-8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weekend Detroit kicks off the 2018 auto show season with a bumper crop of rookie talent. We\u2019ll be treated to new pickups, new EVs, new concepts \u2014 all vying for Detroit News Ten Best in Show. But what of last year\u2019s frosh wonders? Did they live up to their promise? Did the Kia Stinger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21691"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21692,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21691\/revisions\/21692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}