As if the automotive landscape isn’t competitive enough these days, it will get even more crowded with the arrival of GAC Motor of China and France-based Peugeot. GAC attended the recent 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, its fourth time at the annual event. This time, it showed three current models plus a concept. GAC claims it will begin selling its vehicles in North America by the fourth quarter of 2019, although company reps aren’t saying how they will do this (as in setting up their own dealer network or partnering with an established automaker). Meanwhile, the PSA Group) (a.k.a. Peugeot), which sold cars here until 1991, is taking a longer-term approach. It plans to re-enter the market under the recently acquired (from General Motors) Opel brand. As with GAC, PSA isn’t saying how it intends to sell Opel vehicles here.
Buick will add more Avenir models to its lineup
The Sleuth’s sources are hearing that this General Motors division will make a major move on the upper end of the automotive spectrum with the Avenir nameplate. Branded as a premium trim level, the Avenir subset was first introduced for the Buick Enclave utility wagon and will soon be offered as a high-end trim for the full-size LaCrosse sedan. It also appears likely that the Regal will receive the Avenir treatment, as will the Envision and Encore utility vehicles. Apparently, Buick’s marketing team has been greatly inspired by the success of the GMC brand that has success with its loaded-to-the-hilt Denali models.
Honda displays a new Insight, but without any fanfare
The Spy Guy was taken aback when the automaker showed the third-generation of its dedicated hybrid model at the recent 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but without so much as an official introduction to the assembled media. The Honda folks whispered something about budget cuts, but with much hoopla given the new 2019 Acura RDX in the nearby Acura booth, the Sleuth isn’t buying that story. The Insight, which is based on the Honda Civic platform, uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine coupled to an electric motor that gets its juice from a lithium-ion battery pack. Honda is claiming a 50-miles-per-U.S.-gallon fuel-economy rating in combined city/highway driving, which is about average for hybrids these days.
Truck wars in Detroit
The North American International Auto Show was notable for many emerging trends, including the increased competition in the pickup category. The Sleuth checked out the all-new and larger 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with bolder looks and reduced weight (by up to 200 kilograms, said Chevrolet). Along with a first-ever power tailgate option, Silverado will also make available a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, but the company remains mum on the output and fuel economy. Over at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles display, the big news was the 2019 Ram pickup that has a bold yet more attractive front clip, increased towing and hauling capacities and more power for the 3.6-litre V-6 and 5.7-litre V-8 engines. As well, Ford revealed the next-generation 2019 Ranger midsize truck that runs with a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine.
Performance is alive and well at Subaru, but what about design?
Many times before, Suburu has produced excellent design studies/concepts, only for them to be disappointingly watered down when they hit production. The Sleuth thinks that the recently revealed Subaru Viziv Performance STI Concept is an absolutely stunning design, but will Subaru learn the lesson of past follies? The Viziv has an aggressive front end and side cladding, plus a rear wing that appears more integrated with the rest of the body, and not simply bolted on as was the case with previous WRX STI models. There’s no powertrain info, but earlier rumours have raised the possibility of a hybrid system as a way of increasing power and reducing fuel consumption. Expect it to launch for the 2020 model year.
Trending up, Honda, Lincoln and Volvo are winners at NAIAS
The 2018 North American International Auto Show began with an announcements that the Honda Accord is the car of the year, that Volvo XC60 is truck of the year and that the Lincoln Navigator is utility vehicle of the year. The show wrapped up Jan. 28.
Trending up, original Bullitt Mustang surfaces
The whereabouts is finally known of the car that actor Steve McQueen drove in the 1968 movie Bullitt. The Highland Green ’Stang was sold by the movie studio in 1974 to Robert Kiernan of New Jersey, who died in 2014. The car is now owned by Robert’s son, Sean. Although the Mustang is worth an estimated $4 million US, Kiernan is not planning to sell.
