Gear -- 3 days ago
Although the golden days of Motor City are now long in the past, the Detroit Motor Show still draws some fantastic models on to the stands. Whether it is a production ready machine or a hedonistic concept, Detroit can shine its spotlights on its fair share of spectacular metal. Here are 5 of the best cars of the Detroit Auto Show.
FORD GT
, In a bolt from the blue, Ford unveiled a brand new GT at the North American International Auto Show – a real American powerhouse at the centre the United States’ car industry. In a break from the stereotypical muscle car though, the GT is set to be made with high-tech lightweight materials, sophisticated aerodynamics and an efficient engine using Ford’s EcoBoost technology. The twin-turbocharged V6 will produce more than 600bhp which, mated to active aerodynamics and a structure made largely out of carbon fibre, will see Ford’s supercar compete with the world’s best. Ford has scheduled the GT to go into production in 2016 which will mark the 50th anniversary of the original GT’s dominant 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966.
ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER
, The little Italian roadster has been eagerly anticipated and Alfa has thankfully produced the goods. One of the prettiest cars you will ever see, the 4C Spider shares the same carbon fibre tub as found in its coupe stablemate., Weighing in at just 905kg, the 237hp produced from the turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit is a torquey unit and gives the driver a flexible driving experience. Crucially though, the 4C Spider will almost certainly share the same pin sharp steering and superb handling set-up as the 4C Coupe which will give Alfa a roadster to compete against the likes of Porsche’s all-conquering Boxster.
ACURA NSX
Don’t worry; Honda plans to bring the NSX to Britain which should be a relief to any car fan. The NSX shares the same name as Senna’s masterpiece supercar but the new model is as up to date as they come. A twin-turbo V6 is combined with three electric motors – two for each front wheel and one for the rear – to push out a figure around 550hp. Sophisticated torque vectoring steering and Honda’s all-wheel drive system will make sure grip, both in a straight line and around corners, will be virtually unsurpassed.
VW CROSS COUPE GTE
, Although a definite concept, VW’s Cross Coupe GTE not only features a number of styling cues that are sure to feature on forthcoming models but also, the technology under the skin will not be far away from mass production either. Featuring a 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine, the VW also has two electric motors which combine to offer 360hp. The four-wheel drive transmission will help the hybrid powertrain get the Cross Coupe GTE from 0-62mph in just 6.0 seconds. On top of that, the VW can be driven in five different modes: E-Mode, Hybrid, GTE, Off-Road and battery charge. The Teutonic looking stylish coupe-crossover is unlikely to make it to full production but the design puts the Cross Coupe GTE in one of the fastest growing markets in the world so we can but hope.
INFINITI Q60 CONCEPT
, The premium Japanese firm is due to produce a rival to Audi’s A5 and the odds are it will look similar to this. Featuring the same advanced electronic driving systems as the Q50 saloon, the sleek coupe concept features four-wheel drive, a seven-speed automatic gearbox and the Nissan-Renault group’s tried, tested and extremely strong twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine. Don’t be fooled by the Concept badge – this is close to production and for that, we should be thankful. Infiniti are desperate to make their range sportier and the Q60 is a very large step in the right direction.
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