DETROIT used to be the capital of the automotive world, but today it’s better known for its annual international car show and the just-held 2018 Auto Show had many car manufacturers displaying their wares for the year ahead.
BMW unveiled its X2, which arrives in Australia in March in front and all-wheel drive, and Ford showed a hot ST version of its Edge – which will not be coming to Oz.
Instead, we’re getting the wee Ecosport 2WD SUV and its popular Ranger will get an update and a Raptor version, plus the Mustang will get some detail improvements.
Other cars to grace our roads this year include Haval’s just-released updated H9, the Sport edition of Suzuki’s Swift, the Korean Genesis G70 and G80 luxury cars and the Jeep Compass and Cherokee.
Hyundai has shown teaser images of its big Santa Fe, due later and it has its Prius-challenging Ionics coming in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric form.
There’s also a Gen 2 of its sporty Veloster, as well as a potent i30 and closely related Kia has will soon have its new Cerato in showrooms.
Back in Detroit, Lexus showed its super-luxury LF-1 crossover, called ‘Limitless,’ Mercedes unveiled its G-Class and Mini continued with its inexorable range of updates, including cheeky Union Jack taillights to show its Brit roots – despite having a lot of Teutonic blood in its veins these days, and Volkswagen debuted its new and bigger Jetta.
