What Do Consumer Reports Testers Think of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show?
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There’s a lot to talk about from 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit and Auto Test Director Jake Fisher and senior engineers Gabe Shenhar and Tom Mutchler are up to the task.
Think of this year’s show like going to a tapas bar. There were a lot of tasty plates, often interesting and unique, but it lacked the meat-and-potatoes that satisfies mass-market hunger. Supercars were the rage, with Acura finally wheeling out the long-awaited, production-ready NSX, only to have Ford dramatically upstage them with a new GT. Pickups also took the spotlight, with the new Nissan Titan XD and updated Toyota Tacoma joined by the off-road-specials Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram Rebel.
The show included multiple surprises:
- Who would have thought that Buick would be the belle of the ball? They showed the stunning Buick Avenir sedan concept, as well as the ready-for-production Cascada convertible.
- Many observers, including us, were surprised that the Volkswagen Golf beat out the Ford Mustang for North American Car of the Year honors. We discuss whether that choice makes sense.
- The show included the first built-in-China car to be sold in America. But it’s from a brand that you might not expect: Volvo.
