Detroit's rep to some degree has not caught up with its massive comeback in recent years, so it's still common to hear unflattering references to other struggling U.S. cities as "the next Detroit." Despite the increasingly outdated insults, the New York Times' travel section last year ranked it No. 9 on its "52 Places to Go" list of global destinations, and Lonely Planet recently ranked it the second best city in the world to visit. Those accolades are nice and all ... but you know where the Motor City has pretty much always been the No. 1 destination? Auto shows.
Related: More 2018 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
The most prestigious automotive exhibit of the year is upon us once more — and the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit already is shaping up to be a busy affair for our team of journalists, who will be on site bringing you all the new-model debuts straight from the exhibit floor. We already know nearly two-dozen major debuts and counting.
If a theme is emerging, it's that this appears to be the year of the pickup truck — which makes sense considering the top-three best-selling models of 2017 also just happened to be the Detroit Three's iconic American pickups in the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500. Well, we expect to see two of those three in 2019 form — the F-Series and the Ram — in Detroit, along with the resurrected-for-2020 Ford Ranger.
That's in addition to a full complement of new or renewed SUVs, a requisite feature in these ute-crazy times of late that have seen family-sedan sales falter in favor of high-riding haulers. Detroit debuts will include the Acura RDX Prototype, BMW X2, 2019 Jeep Cherokee, Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept and Mercedes-Benz G-Class — and even a well-there's-a-first-time-for-everything entry from exotic sports car nonesuch Lamborghini in the Urus.
But just because sedan sales are slipping doesn't mean automakers are giving up on them. In fact, in the case of the 2019 Toyota Avalon, they seem downright defiant, redesigning a full-size, non-luxury grocery getter of rather marginal popularity in the first place. Joining Toyota in this resistance effort will be the "hatchback" four-door 2019 Audi A7, 2019 Volkswagen Jetta and, well ... the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom (which operates decidedly on its own schedule, with little evident regard for mass-market sales trends).
Times, Dates, Place, Admission Info: Following media- and industry-only previews Jan. 14-18 and a charity preview on Jan. 19, the 2018 North American International Auto Show opens to the public on Jan. 20. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, through Saturday, Jan. 27, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Admission is $14 for adults, $7 for seniors age 65 or older and children age 7-12, and free for children age 6 or younger accompanied by a parent or guardian; a discounted rate of $9 a person is available for groups of 30 or more. Tickets are available on site at Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd., in downtown Detroit, or online.
Not keen on trekking to Detroit in January with an inhospitable weather forecast on the horizon? Fret not: We, of course, will be there to bring you all the action. In the meantime, here's everything we expect to see, so far:
Acura RDX Prototype
2019 Audi A7
BMW i8
BMW X2
2019 Chevrolet Silverado
2020 Ford Ranger
Honda Insight prototype
2019 Hyundai Veloster
Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept
2019 Jeep Cherokee
Kia Forte (rumored)
2019 Lamborghini Urus
Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept
Mercedes-AMG CLS53
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Grand Edition
2019 Ram 1500
2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom
2018 Smart ForTwo 10th Anniversary Edition
2019 Toyota Avalon
2019 Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat GT
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