2018 Detroit Auto Show: Taking a Peek Into the Future

Detroit Auto Show
Farrah of @londonhadalittlelamb tried on many cars at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show but fell in love with the red interior and posh look of the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Photo: Farrah Davidson

The year’s trends in cars took shape in Detroit. Here’s what’s ahead.

A Girls Guide to Cars attends the Detroit Auto Show every year to get a handle on what to look for throughout the year.  Home to the Big Three car makers –General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ford– the entire industry Detroit comes together to see new models revealed with lots of lights and magic. If you like cars it’s a good show; if you like to be entertained, it’s a great scene. We love it.

Detroit Auto Show Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz introduced the all new G Wagon at the Detroit Auto Show. This capable off roader is filled with all new standards of luxury. Photo: Scotty Reiss

We kicked off the week by hearing from Cox Automotive’s top prognosticators about the future of the car biz. Cox is the parent company of brands you know like Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, as well as behind-the-scenes companies like auto auctioneer Manheim and Dealer.com. These companies generate, gather and crunch tons of data every year to paint a picture of what the year, and years, ahead will hold. Among the trends they predict:

  • 2018 will be a hot year for pick up trucks and luxury cars
  • Crossovers will continue to be more popular than sedans
  • 2018 will be a great year to buy a used cars; lots of cars coming into the market but less demand for them means it’s a buyers market
  • Banks and lenders will tighten up credit requirements for car loans
  • The auto business may see a slowing in the number of cars sold but demand will still be high, especially in luxury vehicles and trucks, due to the change in the tax code
  • Expect to hear a lot of buzz about Honda, Audi, Jeep, Subaru and Volvo; these brands are the subject of a lot of search traffic on Cox’s sites
  • There may be great deals from Lincoln, Cadillac, Acura, Hyundai and Lexus; these brands have seen less search traffic, indicating less interest by consumers

Craving a new car? Here are our tips for making that happen this year! 

Detroit Auto Show Bmwx2
BMW introduced the brand new X2 compact crossover in Detroit. These small capable SUVs have proven very popular in recent years. We love how BMW took a cheeky turn by putting the logo on the rear side panel. Photo: Scotty Reiss

Touring the Detroit Auto Show: Hot Cars and Trucks for 2018

We did say trucks! With much fanfare, Ram rolled out the 2019 1500 pick up truck. Competing alongside the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150, the newly sleek Ram 1500 is stronger than ever, built with 98% high strength steel, and filled with intelligent systems and luxuries. Expect this to get high praises when it hits the road.

What it’s like to love a truck when you’re not a truck girl.

With Credit Shaping the Market, Good Deals Can Be Ahead! 

Volkswagen recognizes this and is rolling out the new Jetta with a stunningly low starting price.

Oh Shift! Crossovers and SUVs Are Overtaking Sedans in Popularity

We can’t take credit for that cute phrase, it belongs to Jonathan Smoke of Cox Automotive who used it to describe the impact you’re having in the auto industry. That’s because women are driving this market: We love crossovers and SUVs and we buy a lot of cars: 85% of all car purchases are made by or influenced by women. And this is one of our faves: The brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Another SUV that got a lot of attention is the Acura RDX, the much anticipated redesign of this popular 5-passenger luxury SUV. The new design has a fresh, modern feel and we can’t wait to see this on the road!

Detroit Auto Show Acura Rdx
Acura rolled out the much anticipated RDX crossover at the Detroit Auto Show. Even though this is a prototype, expect this design to show up in showrooms in 2018. Photo: Scotty Reiss

Sedans Aren’t Going Away, Though

Especially when they are this pretty and filled with this much luxury. Toyota introduced the 2019 Avalon, the brand’s premium sedan. The new design takes a cue from sister brand Lexus, which is visible inside and on the front grille.

Sports Cars Made a Splash, Too

These have been making a lot of news over the past few years and 2018 shows no sign of slowing. Ford introduced the Mustang Bullitt, inspired by the 1968 movie starring Steve McQueen. The 50th anniversary edition of this fastback sports sedan was introduced by McQueen’s granddaughter Molly, but everyone is invited to take a starring role.

Mustang, yes, but which one??? We know the answer.

Luxury Makes a Bigger Splash Than Ever

And we love that; we need luxury! While Rolls Royce didn’t have a full exhibit at the show, there were a few models on display, so it was worth making the trek to the grand ballroom at the Cobo Center to see them.

Concept Cars: Where the Future Starts to Take Shape 

There were several great concept cars revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, including this autonomous badass crossover from Nissan. This is a car that can do it all, if they decide to built it, that is. Concepts are, after all, not yet a reality.

#Nissan #XMotion #Concept #DetroitAutoShow

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Detroit Auto Show Lexus F1 Concept
Lexus revealed its new F1 concept crossover. In rose gold! We are smitten. Photo: Scotty Reiss

The Detroit Auto Show runs through January 28th, 2018 at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit; tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for kids and seniors. 

Scotty Reiss
Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom. Expertise includes new cars, family cars, 3-row SUVs, child passenger car seats and automotive careers and culture. A World Car Awards juror and member of the steering committee, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, rather than her finding it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.

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