The 2017 North American
International Auto Show just wrapped up recently, thus making it a good time to
recap some of my personal favorite rides that I saw at the show when I visited.
Of course, this is just my opinion, so no need to rage quit if you disagree
with any. Did you follow or attend the auto show this year? If so, what were
your favorite cars that you saw? Be heard in the comments! Let’s get started!
1. 2017 Volvo XC90 & S90
Volvo’s recent injection of more
passion and genuine luxury into their cars is really paying off, and no two
products show this off better than the brand’s XC90 7-passenger crossover and
new S90 sedan. In fact, the S90 was recently picked as the 2017 Automotive
Design of the year! I was thoroughly impressed with how upscale each model
felt, despite the use of common switch gear in each, and luxury touches such as
real leather, wood, and aluminum coupled with a Bowers & Wilkins sound
system lets you know you’ve chosen a ride that’s a cut above the norm. The
seats in each model were exceptionally comfortable, and I do like how uniquely
sculpted they are too. Although, the third row in the XC90 is somewhat tight.
The swanky 4-passenger XC90 Excellence has “first-class seating” in both rows, massaging
second row seats with heating and cooling functions, built-in monitors to the
back of the front headrests, fold-out tables, crystal wine glasses, a mini
fridge, and a slew of other ultra-luxury features. Very neat! But it’ll cost
you, as that model is meant to compete with vehicles such as Range Rovers
(which are quite expensive, if you didn’t know).
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| Pictured here: Interior of the XC90, XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, XC90 Excellence, V90 Wagon |
For those looking for something
slightly less flashy, the regular XC90 and S90 (as well as the upcoming V90
wagon variants) should more than satisfy you on your daily commute and has plenty
of technology and safety to boot! Both are available with a variety of
turbocharged and supercharged engines AND with plug-in hybrid variants too. I
have a feeling things are just starting to get interesting at Volvo, especially
as we continue to move towards the age of autonomous driving! Base price for
the XC90 is $45,750, and the S90 $46,950.
2. The
Genesis brand
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| Its truly shocking to believe that a brand such as Hyundai has come far enough to offer a strong luxury brand such as Genesis. |
Roughly 10 to 15 years ago, if
you would’ve told someone that Hyundai (or Kia by extension) would eventually
have vehicles that could compete with the likes of Lexus or Audi in terms of
luxury AND quality, but at a lower price point, you would’ve gotten stares or
laughed out of the room. Now fast-forward and enter Genesis, Hyundai’s new luxury
brand that’s poised to take on the best-of-the-best and strive to beat them at
their own game. Initially, only two models will be on sale, the G80 and G90,
which will replace Hyundai’s outgoing Genesis and Equus sedans, respectively.
However, it’s been stated that in the future luxury SUVs and sports cars will
be offered under the brand too. A new 3.3 twin-turbo V6 will be offered on the 2018
G80 Sport and is already available in the G90, among other previously offered
V6 and V8 engine choices.
At a Dealer Near You
Genesis cars will be sold at
existing Hyundai dealers starting out, which in my mind may possibly create
some confusion. After all, there will be limited signage denoting that Genesis
cars are available for sale there most likely, and they’ll be sitting on the
same lot as a $15,000-$20,000 Hyundai Elantra. That aside, I feel that these
cars are beautifully executed overall. There’s a perfect amount of real wood,
leather, luxury and safety features such as adaptive cruise control, and value
all in rolled into one package. When you consider that a comparable BMW
7-Series would cost thousands more, and after you get past the whole "brand name matters" argument, you’ll
see that Genesis makes total sense. I’ll be interested to see how this brand develops
over the years, as many start-ups can be unsuccessful.
3. 2017 BMW 4-Series Convertible
Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a
convertible? Throw in the fact that it’s a BMW, and many people will be quick
to say you have a winner on your hands! For me, I don’t always jump at badges
when I see them. I can be just as happy driving a Kia as I am driving a BMW.
But there was something about
4. 2018 Kia Stinger GT
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| That blue Stinger is absolutely stunning! My oh my! |
Kia is a brand that’s growing,
and growing FAST. So, when the company promised a few years back that they
would be bringing a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sports car to market soon, we should’ve
figured it would only be a matter of time before we saw the real deal. Enter the 2018 Stinger, Kia’s first
designated performance sedan. The Stinger will not only offer RWD, but it will
also offer all-wheel-drive (AWD) and five selectable drive modes. Under the
hood, a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 255 HP and a 3.3-liter twin-turbo
V6 making 365 HP will be offered. Both will be paired to an 8-speed automatic
transmission. The twin-turbo engine is expected to accelerate from 0-60 in as
little as 5.1 seconds according to Kia.
What really caught my eye about
this model was its styling, especially in the sharp blue color on display. It’s
like nothing you’d expect from Kia! Supposedly, the Stinger’s styling was
inspired by GT cars of the 1970s and is supposed to compete with cars such as
the C-Class and 3-Series. However, its styled more like a Porsche Panamera or
Audi A7 given that it’s got hatchback functionality. Therefore, I would say
this model would compete more closely with the upcoming Audi A5 Sportback and
the BMW 3 Series Grand Turismo. On price, however, it’ll undercut them. Kia
estimates that this model will start in the upper $30,000 range and top out in
the $50,000 range. For more info on the Stinger, look at the infographic I’ve provided a shot of. The Stinger will be released in the fall of 2017. I’m excited to
drive one for myself!
5. 2017 Ford GT
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| Easily one of the most stunning cars at this year's auto show, the Ford GT will only be a limited production model. |
One of the biggest stars of the
show, the Ford GT is undoubtedly one of the most stunning cars… EVER!
Especially in red! There’s just something about red… Even while sitting still,
this supercar looked as if it was in motion, and it drew crowds so thick until
it was basically impossible to push your way to the front to get a good shot of
it. The modern, carbon fiber spin on this classic nameplate works well, and I only
wish I would’ve been able to sit inside of the GT so I could get an even better
perspective of what a marvel it is. As with any true head-turning design,
head-turning numbers must come along with the package. And we now know official
figures from Ford regarding exactly how powerful and fast the new GT is. Under
the hood, a 3.5-liter mid-engine twin-turbo Ecoboost V6 is standard and makes
647 HP and 550 lb.-ft. of torque. Unfortunately, a manual transmission won’t be
offered, so this engine will only be paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Top speed is said to be 216 MPH, even faster than the seemingly uncatchable Dodge
Hellcat models. Of course, this could change when the Dodge Demon comes out as
another high-speed, high-powered rival. But this is impressive, and makes the
GT even MORE desirable!
Not So Fast!
Want one? Of course you do! But too bad. Only 500
people will ever have one. Since this is such as limited model, pricing is
expected to begin at roughly $450,000. But hey, keep on saving up! You never
know when one may show up on a used car lot down the road.
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That wraps up my recap of my
favorite cars from the auto show. Again, let me know what your favorite auto show cars this year were. Until next time, ROLL ON!
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