Detroit show vows to rock
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Organisers of this month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit have promised to "absolutely rock" the industry, releasing the first schedule of press conferences which will see automakers from around the world unveil new products.
The show, America’s largest, will likely see about 40 new vehicle introductions during the two-day press period on January 9-10, ranging from refreshes to new production models and concept vehicles which are not quite ready for the market.
Among the highlights will be the announcement of the North American Car of the Year winner, before Ford takes to the stage at 8am, followed by its competitors Chrysler and Chevrolet.
The rest of the roster, which reads like a “Who’s who” of the automotive world, includes Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, Audi, MINI, Volvo, Bentley, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan and Maserati.
The EyesOn Design Awards will be presented in the afternoon of the second press day, on January 10.
Many industry veterans have observed that NAIAS has lost its shine in recent years, with increasing competition from consumer-friendly shows in New York and Las Vegas and the near-permanent shadow of the enormous shows in Beijing and Shanghai looming over it.
However, this year the host venue, Detroit’s COBO Centre, has been vastly improved by the addition of some 25,000 square feet (2300 square metres) of space, which should help to relieve the famously cramped event.
Those that still find the idea of jostling for a view among the 750,000 other visitors expected could consider joining The Gallery, an exclusive showcase of 25 vehicles, which will take place at the MGM Grand Detroit on January 8 and will play host to the cream of the automotive industry ahead of the show proper.
The Gallery will feature magnificent vehicles from Aston Martin, Bentley, Corvette, Falcon, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lexus, Lincoln, Lingenfelter, Maserati, Morgan, Porsche, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, and the finest motorcycles. Many of the vehicles on display at The Gallery will not be shown at the NAIAS. The Aston Martin One-77, Lamborghini Aventador, Rolls Royce Ghost and Jaguar XKR-S will be on display exclusively at The Gallery.
Like last year, those unable to make it to the event will be able to follow a virtual show floor, complete with photos, other multimedia and even Twitter chats with representatives of the brands. An app will also be available to download.
The show opens to the public on January 14, after the two-day press preview, the industry preview (January 11-12) and a charity preview (January 13). It runs through January 22.
