{"id":23309,"date":"2019-01-17T13:16:13","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T17:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=23309"},"modified":"2019-01-17T13:16:13","modified_gmt":"2019-01-17T17:16:13","slug":"detroit-auto-show-consumer-guide-smaller-show-big-acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/detroit-auto-show-consumer-guide-smaller-show-big-acts","title":{"rendered":"Detroit auto show consumer guide: Smaller show, big acts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"People<\/p>\n<\/div>

The\u00a02019 Detroit auto show\u00a0is diminished this year, a victim of the exodus of foreign luxury-makers and the transition to a new June format 18 months from now.<\/p>\n

But though this year’s show speaks softly, it carries big sticks.<\/p>\n

From the ferocious Ford Mustang GT500 to the stump-pulling Ram Heavy Duty pickup to the long-awaited return of the Toyota Supra sports car, Cobo Center is full of\u00a0the good ol’ muscle the event has long been known for. It’s also a family-fun destination with utes galore\u00a0and enough rides, rope courses (yes, rope courses)\u00a0and high-tech to keep the young ‘uns stimulated\u00a0the whole afternoon.<\/p>\n

Enter Cobo from the Washington Boulevard\u00a0Garage\/Cobo Roof into Hall A and it’s not\u00a0immediately apparent that anything has changed.<\/p>\n

The aisle between the Ford and Chevy exhibits is like a\u00a0moat between warring armies: Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs\u00a0and pickups bristle like heavy artillery. But while GM’s stand looks familiar from last year, Ford has a\u00a0fresh look to go with its new\u00a0state-of-the-art Mustang and Explorer weapons.<\/p>\n

The stand is arranged with “shipping containers” full of product: an F-150 over here, a ‘Stang GT500 over there. In the middle of it all is a huge stage that re-creates \u2014 twice-an-hour \u2014\u00a0Ford’s media reveal of its all-new GT500 and Explorer. The simulated helicopter drop of the GT500 is not to be missed.<\/p>\n

The second floor of the old Ford exhibit is gone,\u00a0replaced by the “Ford Scramble Net” ropes course and virtual-reality Explorer drive. The kids will spend hours crisscrossing the roped net dangled high above the floor. Or you can pack the whole family into the Explorer, strap on virtual-reality goggles, and take an 11-minute ride into America’s national parks.<\/p>\n

Behind the Ford exhibit is Fiat Chrysler’s display, once the envy of the show with its floor-to-ceiling, Times Square-like light displays. This year’s exhibit is de-tuned,\u00a0though the product is not with enough Hellcat, SRT\u00a0and Ram horsepower to blow the roof off Cobo.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of themes to watch for. Here are my favorites.<\/p>\n

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