Auto show season is underway, and there was some big news coming out of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to delight any car fan.
The 2022 North American International Auto Show was finally held Sept. 14-25 in Detroit after taking a break during the pandemic. A lot has changed in the auto industry since January 2019, the last time Detroit hosted the auto show.
Besides the president showing up and the new vehicle revealed from some of the world’s biggest automakers, Fred Flintstone’s “Flintmobile,” the “Ghostbusters” car, and two “Jurassic Park” vehicles were shown, along with more than 80 large size dinosaurs. A giant rubber duck sat outside for a fun photo op. Flying technology was also on hand at the Air Mobility Experience featuring displays and demonstrations of air mobility innovators, including an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, a hoverbike, and a hoverboard.
Here are the five of the coolest news updates to come out of the show this year:
1. President Joe Biden touts his vision for an electric vehicle future
Biden announced an investment of more than $135 billion to “advance America’s electric vehicle future” with the funding for EV charging infrastructure for 33 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“Our infrastructure law is also helping to make it in America and win the economic race of the 21st century,” Biden said, according to Automotive News.
The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act extends the $7,500 tax credit for consumers buying new EVs. It also creates a new tax credit for up to $4,000 for qualifying consumers buying EVs that cost less than $25,000. The law also provides billions of dollars to build EV manufacturing plants, retool existing plants, and loans to build new U.S. EV manufacturing plants.
2. The 2024 Ford Mustang reveals a new version to please sports car lovers
The seventh generation Ford Mustang showed off a new “completely rethought” interior, offering an optional “digital cockpit” with two large connected, customizable screens inspired by fighter jets. The sports car is also sticking with the V-8 engine the vehicle is known for, even though Dodge is getting rid of its gas-powered Challenger next year, and Chevrolet is looking to discontinue its Camaro by 2024. Ford sees this as an opportunity to pick up new sales and fill in the gap.
“Investing in another generation of Mustang is a big statement at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion vehicles,” Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, said in a statement. “Ford, however, is turbocharging its ICE growth plan, adding connected technology, opinionated derivates, and hybrid options to our most profitable and popular cars – all in the Ford Blue family – on top of investing $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026.”
Mustang is also introducing Remote Rev, which lets you rev the car’s engine remotely using the key fob. Hello! Ford has the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV if you want to stay away from gas-powered. The reveal included 1,000 older Ford Mustangs lining downtown Detroit.
3. Lexus shows off its first fully electric Lexus RZ 450e
The luxury automaker’s new RZ marks the next step for the brand into a fully electrified future. According to its website, the RZ 450e is the first globally available dedicated battery electric vehicle from Lexus. The RZ 450e uses a dedicated battery-electric platform to “significantly evolve vehicle performance for an exhilarating drive,” Lexus said in describing the new car. “This Lexus-first platform offers high levels of stability and ride comfort by mounting the battery under the vehicle floor for a low center of gravity and moment of inertia,” the Lexus website said. The vehicle can go about 2250 miles on a single charge.
4. Lincoln showed its new 2023 Corsair SUV
This small luxury SUV touts athletic design, intelligent technology, and available Auto Air Refresh to help make the journey a breath of fresh air. The 2023 Corsair features the new Lincoln ActiveGlide 1.2, a hands-free advanced driver-assistance system. Features of the intelligent driving system include lane-changing assist, intersection assist, predictive-speed assist, and in-lane repositioning. When initiated, ActiveGlide 1.2 will also automatically change lanes for the driver when the blinker is turned on. The new Corsair also has a refreshed grille, an update to its daytime running lamps, and a more spacious front-row configuration.
The Grand Touring plug-in hybrid EV version features a new grill design and two additional driving modes: Pure EV for a quiet all-electric drive and Preserve EV to recharge and save battery power later.
5. Toyota reveals its completely new 2023 Crown with a new Hybrid Max Powertrain
This reimagined Crown was brought back to the U.S. in July and is the first of Toyota’s sedans to offer its Hybrid Max system, a new performance setup available only with the Platinum-grade offering. The premium Crown has a raised height nearly four inches higher than the Camry to provide increased road visibility and easy entry and exit. The Crown is available in five colors: Black, Oxygen White, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Heavy Metal, and Supersonic Red, with a black interior. Every Crown comes with Toyota’s new Audio Multimedia System and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 standard. The 2023 Crown also comes standard with Toyota’s Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive.
The Crown debuted in 1955 as the Toyopet Crown, Toyota’s first mass-produced passenger vehicle. It has since become Toyota’s premium sedan in Japan. While it was the first Japanese car to hit America in 1958, it was last sold in the U.S. in 1972. After 15 generations of Crown, Toyota has returned the vehicle to U.S. drivers.
Check back to BestRide.com to learn more news about upcoming auto shows.
